Quality of vision following penetrating keratoplasty and deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty for keratoconus

Abstract

Abstract Purpose The authors purpose is to investigate whether quality of vision in keratoconus patients after deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) with and without descemet’s membrane (DM) exposure, may be comparable with Penetrating Keratoplasty (PK). Methods To investigate quality of vision after PK and DALK with and without DM exposure a files of 52 keratoconus patients were analysed. Patients were divided in 3 groups: group 1 (n = 16) DALK with DM exposure, group 2 (n = 22) DALK without DM exposure and group 3 (n = 14) PK. Visual function was assessed by Uncorrected Visual Acuity (UCVA) and Best Spectacle Corrected Visual Acuity (BSCVA), Low Contrast Visual Acuity (LCVA) and Pelli‐Robson Contrast Sensitivity (PRCS). Results UCVA was comparable among groups. BCVA, LCVA and PRCS were better in group 1 than group 2 (p < 0.05) and comparable between groups 1 and 3 (p > 0.05). Conclusion Quality of vision after DALK is comparable to PK if the DM is exposed.