Dipak Bhuyan 1 , Himanto Nath Hazarika 2 , Bonomita Neogi 3 , Sujit Addya
BACKGROUND Corneal transplantation or grafting is an operation in which abnormal corneal host tissue is replaced by healthy donor cornea. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), corneal diseases are among the major causes of vision loss and blindness in the world today after cataract and glaucoma. The aim of the study is to1. Evaluate the different aetiology of corneal opacity including active infective aetiology as indicated for penetrating keratoplasty. 2. Determine the clinical outcome of penetrating keratoplasty in relation to graft survival, graft rejection and peri-operative complications in different aetiology groups. 3. Determine the final visual outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS Candidates for keratoplasty were selected from1. Eye Bank of Regional Institute of Ophthalmology (R.I.O). 2. R.I.O OPD. The study period was from September 2014 to August 2015. 30 cases were taken in the study. Descriptive statistics were applied to analyse the data wherever necessary. RESULTS 34.6±19.73 yrs. (mean±SD) was the mean age at which transplants were done in the study. Out of total 30 cases, 13 (43.33%) and 17 (56.66%) were male and female, respectively. The different indications for penetrating keratoplasty are- Post ulcer corneal opacity in 14 cases (46.66%), posttraumatic corneal opacity 9 cases (30%), pseudophakic bullous keratopathy 4 cases (13.33%), corneal dystrophy in 2 cases (6.66%) and non-healing corneal ulcer in 1 case (3.33%). 16 cases (53.33%) showed clear graft till the last follow up while 11 (33.33%) cases showed partially clear graft resulting in improved visual outcome while 3 cases (10.00%) of the grafts were opaque due to graft failure. CONCLUSION The major indications for penetrating keratoplasty in this part of the world are post ulcer and posttraumatic corneal opacity and majority of them are illiterate agricultural workers who failed to get adequate treatment on time. Graft survival rate is high, which can be attributed to the gradual improvement in all the aspects of penetrating keratoplasty, be it the improved viewing system, effective medications to counter complications and better understanding of corneal physiology.
