J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2012 Sep;53(9):1247-1253. 10.3341/jkos.2012.53.9.1247.

Analysis of Long-Term Change in Corneal Sensitivity after Penetrating Keratoplasty and Associated Tear Film Parameters

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Ophthalmology, Chonnam National University Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea. kcyoon@jnu.ac.kr

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the long-term changes in the corneal sensitivity and to analyze which tear film parameters correlate with corneal sensitivity after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP).
METHODS
Twenty-eight eyes of 28 patients who underwent PKP were included in the present study. Corneal sensitivity, Schirmer test, tear break-up time, tear clearance rate, and keratoepitheliopathy were evaluated at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. Then, which tear film parameters correlated with corneal sensitivity during the follow-up period were analyzed.
RESULTS
Corneal sensitivity was 5.18 +/- 3.96 mm at one month postoperatively and increased to 29.64 +/- 12.39 mm (p < 0.05) at 24 months postoperatively but was still not in the normal range. Tear break-up time and keratoepitheliopathy improved at postoperative three months and six months, respectively, compared with one month postoperatively, and both measures normalized at 24 months postoperatively. Schirmer test results and tear clearance rate were in the normal range during the follow-up period. Corneal sensitivity was correlated with tear break-up time from three to 24 months postoperative and with tear clearance rate from one month to 24 months postoperative (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Change in corneal sensitivity after penetrating keratoplasty correlates with tear break-up time and tear clearance rate; therefore, tear break-up time and tear clearance rate can be used as parameters for management of dry eye after PKP.

Keyword

Corneal sensitivity; Penetrating keratoplasty; Tear film

MeSH Terms

Eye
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Keratoplasty, Penetrating
Reference Values
Tears

Figure

  • Figure 1 Changes in corneal sensitivity (A), tear film and ocular surface parameters including tear break-up time (B), Schirmer test (C), tear clearance rate (D), and keratoepitheliopathy (E) after penetrating keratoplasty. Dotted line indicates the lowest value of the normal range (*p < 0.05, compared with 1 month data).


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