Obesity as a factor in penetrating keratoplasty.

PURPOSE: We reviewed the clinical data on 10 obese patients to define the role of obesity as a factor for consideration in planning penetrating keratoplasty.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective case series review of penetrating keratoplasty in obese patients.

RESULTS

In our series of 10 patients, spontaneous extrusion of lens and vitreous (three patients) and choroidal hemorrhage (one patient) were intraoperative complications. Wound leakage, wound dehiscence (two patients), iridocorneal synechia formation, and graft rejection (one patient) were postoperative complications. Despite these complications, seven of the 10 patients achieved a final postoperative visual acuity of > or =20/30.

CONCLUSION

Cornea surgeons must consider obesity as a potential risk factor that may be mitigated partially by careful preoperative patient evaluation, anesthesia planning, and meticulous attention to patient positioning and comfort during surgery.