Outcome of penetrating keratoplasty in patients with bilateral corneal blindness.

PURPOSE:To evaluate the outcome of penetrating keratoplasty in patients with bilateral corneal blindness. METHODS:Bilaterally blind patients who had undergone optical penetrating keratoplasty (PK) were evaluated on optical and refractive parameters and presence of complications if any. The results at 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year were compared with age-matched and indication-matched unilaterally blind controls. RESULTS:The most common indication for surgery in both the groups was the presence of a corneoiridic scar. Best corrected visual acuity of?6/18 was seen in five (16.66%) patients in the study group and in 11 (36.66%) patients in the control group (P=0.14). In all, 15 (50%) grafts in the study group and six (20%) in the control group failed (P=0.03). The most common cause of failure was graft infection (40%) in the study group and post-PK glaucoma (20%) in the control group. The percentage of graft rejection as a cause of graft failure was the same in both the groups. A composite socioeconomic status scale based on family literacy and income suggested that 70%of the cases in the study group and 30%in the control group belonged to the low socioeconomic group (P=0.004). CONCLUSION:The outcome of optical penetrating keratoplasty in patients with bilaterally blinding corneal disease is poorer than those who are unilaterally blind. Low socioeconomic status may be a contributing factor for the poor outcome.Eye (2005) 19, 451-454. doi:10.1038/sj.eye.6701534 Published online 20 August 2004 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]