Corneal transplant outcome in the Palestinian territories: a 2-year follow-up study.

PURPOSE: To review the 2-year corneal transplant outcome in a cohort of patients from the Palestinian territories transplanted at the St John Eye Hospital in East Jerusalem in 2001-2002.

METHODS

Two-year follow-up data were recorded on the Swedish Corneal Transplant Register for 99 of the 161 patients originally transplanted. Multiple regression analyses (linear and logistic) were carried out to determine the influence of diagnosis, preoperative risk factors, and postoperative complications on graft survival and visual outcome.

RESULTS

The incidence of preoperative risk factors in keratoconus patients was similar to other diagnoses (P=0.4) but they had fewer postoperative complications (39 vs 77%, P<0.001). Graft survival was higher in the keratoconus group (96 vs 49%, P<0.001). Visual outcome was also better with 47% of patients achieving VA >or=0.5 (6/12) whereas 88% of the other patients had VA <or=0.2 (6/30). However, 49% of these other patients did gain at least one Snellen line.

CONCLUSION

Indication had the strongest influence on graft survival and visual outcome. Although the overall results were not so good as in Sweden, the majority of Palestinian patients did show some improvement in vision after corneal transplantation.