Risk Factor of Cataract Formation after Penetrating Keratoplasty

Abstract

Introduction: Post-corneal graft cataract is a not negligible complication. Its occurrence rate varies from 0.4% (2) to 32% (3) according to series, it can present itself in the form of nuclear, cortical and posterior capsular opacities. Its treatment corresponds to a usual cataract surgery by phacoemulsification with implantation in the capsular bag. Our work aims to identify and analyze the risk factors for the development of cataract after keratoplasty. Materials and Methods: This is an analytical study conducted within the Ophthalmology Service B at the Rabat Specialty Hospital on 58 patients who underwent penetrating keratoplasty. The main criteria studied were: age; sex; indication for surgery and average dose of corticosteroids. Statistical calculations were made using the SPSS 10.0 software for Windows. A p value <0.05 was considered significant. The average follow-up was 24 months. Results: Cataract after corneal transplantation was observed in 10 cases (17.2%). The mean age at the time of cataract diagnosis was 55 years, with extremes ranging from 40 to 70 years? It developed in 7 of the 33 female cases (21%), and in 3 of the 25 male cases (12%). The onset delay ranged between 16 and 24 months, with a mean delay of 18 months after the penetrating keratoplasty. The most frequent type was nuclear cataract (8 of 10 eyes, 80%), posterior subcapsular cataract developed in one eye (10%) and cortical-nuclear cataract in one eye (10%). It developed in 4 of the 9 cases operated for corneal dystrophies (44.4%), in 3 of the 11 cases operated for sequelae of infectious keratitis (27.2%), in 2 of the 13 cases operated for posttraumatic opacity (15%) and in 1 of the 20 cases operated for keratoconus (5%). In our study, only age and operative indication of the graft were considered as risk factors for the development of cataract after corneal transplantation (p<0.05). The preoperative visual acuity, the patient’s sex.