Therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty in severe infective keratitis using glycerol-preserved donor corneas

Cornea. 2012 Oct;31(10):1103-6. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0b013e31821c9ba2.

Abstract

Purpose: To report the surgical outcome of therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty (TPKP) using glycerol-preserved donor corneas in severe infective keratitis.

Methods: Glycerol-preserved corneas were obtained from the recipient corneas of the patients who underwent optical penetrating keratoplasty and preserved in glycerol. Eight eyes of 8 patients (3 men/5 women; average age, 69.7 years) with severe corneal ulcer with perforation were treated with TPKP using glycerol-preserved corneas.

Results: With a mean follow-up time of 31.1 months (range, 9-58 months), satisfactory anatomical integrity was obtained in 7 patients (87.5%) at the end of the follow-up. Eradication of infection without recurrence was obtained in 7 eyes (87.5%). The mean reepithelialization time was 10.2 days. One patient (12.5%) received secondary optical penetrating keratoplasty. The pre-TPKP visual acuity ranged from no light perception to 0.06. After surgery, 4 eyes (50%) improved or maintained preoperative visual acuity and four eyes (50%) had no light perception but maintained anatomical integrity. One had a recurrent infection and needed antibiotics and amniotic membrane graft. One suffered from secondary glaucoma and received evisceration 19 months later.

Conclusions: Glycerol-preserved donor corneas may be effective substitutes in TPKP to control severe infective keratitis and preserve anatomical integrity.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Bacteria / isolation & purification
  • Corneal Perforation / microbiology
  • Corneal Perforation / surgery*
  • Corneal Ulcer / microbiology*
  • Corneal Ulcer / surgery*
  • Eye Infections, Bacterial / microbiology
  • Eye Infections, Bacterial / surgery*
  • Eye Infections, Fungal / microbiology
  • Eye Infections, Fungal / surgery*
  • Female
  • Fungi / isolation & purification
  • Glycerol
  • Humans
  • Keratoplasty, Penetrating*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tissue Donors
  • Tissue Preservation / methods*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Visual Acuity / physiology

Substances

  • Glycerol