Deep lamellar keratoplasty in the treatment of keratoconus.

PURPOSE: To present our experience with a series of patients treated with deep lamellar keratoplasty (DLK) for keratoconus (KC).

DESIGN

A single surgeon, prospective, consecutive series.

METHOD: The study included all patients with KC who underwent DLK between March 1999 and November 2003 at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. The parameters evaluated included patients' demographics, pre- and post-operative best corrected visual acuities, post-operative keratometry, and intra- and post-operative complications.

RESULTS

There were 22 patients (23 eyes); 10 females and 12 males, with a mean age of 35 +/- 13 years (median, 33.5; range, 17-73). The median follow-up period was 13 months (range 7-38). In 89% (16/18) of eyes which underwent DLK, and in which a visual acuity could be obtained, a best corrected visual acuity of at least 6/12 was recorded. There were two episodes of Descemet's membrane perforation (8.7%), in which the procedure was converted to penetrating keratoplasty without complications. One patient developed a double anterior chamber, which resolved spontaneously without consequences.

CONCLUSION

The visual outcomes and complication rates seen in our series are comparable to the recent published literature. Hence DLK can be considered as a suitable alternative to penetrating keratoplasty for the surgical treatment of KC.