Abstract
Purpose: :
To determine the leading indications and examine the changing trends for penetrating keratoplasty (PK) in San Antonio and South Central Texas over the past three decades.
Methods: :
Retrospective review of 734 pathologic reports of corneal buttons from penetrating keratoplasties received at the Ophthalmic Pathology Laboratory, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, during the years 1982-1986, 1992-1996 and 2002-2003. The main measured outcome was pathological diagnosis.
Results: :
The leading indications for penetrating keratoplasty and their respective frequencies during 1982-1986, 1992-1996 and 2002-2003 were bullous keratopathy after cataract surgery (ABK/PBK) (48.9%, 34.2%, 18.2%, respectively), regraft (12.8%, 16.3%, 20.8%), Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy (9.5%, 11.3%, 12.7%), corneal scar (4.9%, 7.4%, 12.3%) and keratoconus (9.9%, 13.2%, 8.9%).
Conclusions: :
Bullous keratopathy following cataract surgery (ABK/PBK) was the leading indication for penetrating keratoplasty during the first two decades of our series. Regraft increased 3.5% between the first two decades, and 4.5% between the second and the third decade to become the current leading indication for penetrating keratoplasty. Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy and corneal scar also increased over time. Keratoconus increased between the first two decades and then decreased between the second and the third decades. The observed trends are generally in agreement with the data reported in other similar studies from North America.
Keywords: transplantation • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: prevalence/incidence • cornea: clinical science