[Therapeutic keratoplasty using corneas obtained from keratoconus patients]

Therapeutic lamellar keratoplasty was performed using corneas obtained from keratoconus patients undergoing penetrating keratoplasty. The corneas used in this series were stored in preservation solution for 7 to 59 days (average, 27.8 days) and submitted to surgery. The recipients were three patients with recurrent pterygium, one with primary pterygium, one with corneal perforation and iris prolapse due to fungal corneal ulcer, and one with limbal dermoid. Graft rejection developed in two cases postoperatively, but they were successfully treated with steroid therapy. During the entire period of clinical observation, there was no sign of recurrence of pterygium. In the case of the fungal corneal ulcer, the site of perforation healed quickly and the donor cornea maintained its transparency. A marked cosmetic improvement was achieved in the case of the limbal dermoid. Obtaining corneas from keratoconus patients and storing them for a short period is a potentially useful application for therapeutic lamellar keratoplasty.