J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  1997 Aug;38(8):1355-1361.

Early Corneal-Thickness Changes after Penetrating Keratoplasty

• Kim DH
• Kim MS
• Kim JH

Abstract

The functional restoration of the corneal endothelium is vital to the success of penetrating keratoplasty and essential in maintaining corneal clarity. The corneal thickness is the important prognostic factors for penetrating keratoplasty and evaluated with pachymetry. We studied the serial corneal thickness change after penetrating keratoplasty to evaluate the integrity of the corneal endotehlium and to determine the prognostic value. We found the Pearsons coorelation coefficient and evaluate the effect of following parameters with such as donor age, donror cornea status, enucleation time, corneal storage time, preoperative diagnosis, operation methods, lens status and post operative course on the changes of corneal thickness. The central corneal thickness was measured in 41 eye and averaged 0.716 mm. in the post operative 1 day. Average central corneal thickness progressively decreased following penetrating keratoplasty and reached the stabilization of corneal thikckness at the postoperative 30 days with 0.537mm. Factors influencing on the corneal thickness are lens status, combined procedure with keratoplasty, longer enucleation time, complications during the follow-up course.

Keyword

Central corneal thickness; Corneal endothelium; Ultrasonic pachometer

MeSH Terms

Cornea
Corneal Transplantation
Diagnosis
Endothelium, Corneal
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Keratoplasty, Penetrating*
Tissue Donors