Emergency keratoplasty

Abstract

Abstract Purpose Retrospective study about emergency keratoplasties made in our Service of Ophthalmology between 2006 and 2009. Methods From the total number of 92 penetrating keratoplasties (PKP) 12 were done as an emergency. Of these, 66,7% were women and 33,3% men. Causes leading to surgery, donor and receptor cornea and eye, graft size, surgical technique, postoperative evolution, visual acuity and graft transparency were analysed. Results Range of age was between 25 and 78 years. Corneal perforation was present in 8 cases. Corneal pathologies were: trophic and infectious corneal ulcers of bacterial, herpetic and fungal origin, bullous keratopathy and post‐LASIK hydrops. Best corrected visual acuity was between 0,1 y 0,7. Postoperatve complications were rejection of the graft (1 case), relapsed ulcer (3 cases), infections and calcium deposits. 9 grafts still remain transparent. Conclusion Emergency keratoplasies have worse prognosis, as the corneas suffer from an active inflammation and/or infection, including a possible perforation. Alternatives for penetrating keratoplasty are corneal adhesives, lamellar keratoplasties and the use of amniotic membrane.