Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: The results of penetrating keratopasty in African Americans with keratoconus have not been reported. The purpose of this study is to compare visual outcomes between African Americans and Caucasians who underwent penetrating keratoplasty for keratoconus. Methods: The records of all the patients who underwent penetrating keratoplasty for keratoconus at the University of Tennessee, Memphis between July 2000 and June 2003 were reviewed retrospectively for preoperative and postoperative visual acuity, severity of ectasia, postoperative complications and follow–up period. Results: Twenty–three African–American patients (27 eyes) and 10 Caucasians (10 eyes) with keratoconus underwent penetrating keratoplasty during this period of time. The mean age of the African–American patients at the time of keratoplasty was 28.4 years, while the mean age of Caucasian patients was 34.5 years. The mean preoperative logarithm of minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) was significantly lower in African Americans than Caucasians (1.48 vs. 1.04; P<0.05). The mean postoperative logMAR was also significantly lower in African–American patients than in Caucasians (0.42 vs. 0.15; P<0.05). Higher incidence of graft rejection was seen in African Americans than Caucasians. Conclusions: African–American patients with keratoconus were significantly younger than Caucasians at the time of penetrating keratoplasty in this series. The visual outcomes following penetrating keratoplasty for keratoconus were significantly worse in African Americans than in Caucasians. A higher incidence of graft rejection was seen in African–American patients than Caucasians.
Keywords: keratoconus • transplantation • cornea: clinical science