A STUDY OF THE VARIOUS FACTORS AFFECTING THE FINAL OUTCOME OF THERAPEUTIC KERATOPLASTY

Dr Vipin Rana; Dr Atul Gupta; Dr Anirudh Singh; Dr Vijay Mathur

Volume : VII, Issue : V, May - 2017

A STUDY OF THE VARIOUS FACTORS AFFECTING THE FINAL OUTCOME OF THERAPEUTIC KERATOPLASTY

Dr Vipin Rana, Dr Atul Gupta, Dr Anirudh Singh, Dr Vijay Mathur

Abstract :

Background: A prospective study of the various factors affecting the final outcome of therapeutic keratoplasty was carried out. Methods: This was a prospective interventional study which included 35 patients having infective corneal ulcers and underwent therapeutic keratoplasty. It was done to study the indications, therapeutic outcome, complications and to document the factors affecting the final outcome of therapeutic keratoplasty. Paired t test to see change between different time period and unpaired t test to see the difference between two groups and pearson chi square for nominal data were used. Results: The mean age was 44.63 ± 13.216 years. Cultures for fungus were present in 15 patients and for bacteria in 11 patients. Graft survival was found to be better in small ulcers with size <7mm, in small grafts <8.5mm, in patients where early keratoplasty (within 15 days of symptoms) was done and in cases affected with bacterial keratitis. Graft survival was found to be poor in ulcers involving limbus, fungal keratitis, where surgery was delayed and large ulcers which required larger grafts. Complications were found to be more in patients with larger grafts and ulcers with limbus involvement. Conclusion: In therapeutic keratoplasty favourable outcomes in terms of better graft survival and less complications are seen in cases where small donor grafts < 8.5mm are used, in small ulcers with size <7mm, when early keratoplasty (within 15 days of symptoms) is done and in patients of bacterial keratitis.