Indications of penetrating keratoplasty in northern India.

PURPOSE: To identify the indications for penetrating keratoplasty in northern India.

METHODS

All the eye bank records of penetrating keratoplasties performed during the period from June 1997 to November 2003 at Rajendra Prasad Center for Ophthalmic Sciences were reviewed.

RESULTS

During this period, 2022 penetrating keratoplasties were performed. The leading indications for penetrating keratoplasty were corneal scarring (38.03%) followed by acute infectious keratitis (28.38%), regrafting (11.5%), aphakic bullous keratopathy (7.27%), pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (6.18%), and corneal dystrophy (3.85%). Healed infectious keratitis (19.83%) was the most common subcategory among the eyes with corneal scarring followed by traumatic corneal scars (16.71%). Healed (19.83%) and active keratitis (28.38%) together accounted for the majority of keratoplasties (48.21%). In cataract-related corneal edema (13.45%), aphakic bullous keratopathy (7.27%) was almost as frequent as compared with pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (6.18%).

CONCLUSIONS

Corneal infections either active or healed are the most common indication for keratoplasty in northern India.