Corneal grafts for endothelial decompensation: the influence of intraocular lenses on corneal graft survival.

Re-examination of the fate of 136 corneal grafts for bullous keratopathy (secondary endothelial decompensation) revealed a decreased, but not significant, graft survival of those grafts compared to the total of 572 grafts in patients with a diagnosis other than bullous keratopathy, as well as a decreased graft survival when compared to the survival of the grafts for Fuchs dystrophy (primary endothelial decompensation). A statistically significant decreased graft survival (P = 0.015) was observed when corneal grafts performed in pseudophakic eyes with secondary endothelial decompensation were compared to those performed in aphakic eyes with secondary endothelial decompensation. An immunological explanation for this difference was not detected. The influence of an intraocular lens on corneal corneal graft survival was analyzed. Indications for removing or retaining the intraocular lens at the time of graft surgery are reported.