engleski

Corneal transplantation in children

Purpose: To describe the surgical success rate and visual results of penetrating keratoplasty in a series of young children. Methods: Retrospective study of children aged 16 years and younger (range 6-16 years) who underwent corneal transplantation between 1994 and 1999 at our Department. Patients were followed up for at least 6 months postopertively. 19 corneal transplants were performed in 18 eyes. Corneal pathologies were as follows: leucoma corneae (n=4), congenital dystrophy (n=4), corneal combustion (n=3), corneal scar after perforating injury (n=2), keratoconus (n=4), hematocornea (n=1) and rekeratoplasty (n=1). Results: The 1-year survival rate of grafts was: leucoma corneae 50%, congenital dystrophy 75%, corneal combustion 33%, corneal scar after penetrating injury 50% and keratoconus 75%. Hematocornea and rekeratoplasty ended in graft failure. Postoperative visual acuity improvement was seen in 11 out of 19 eyes. Conclusions: Penetrating keratoplasty in children has a reasonable chance of surgical success. The chance for graft survival depends on the corneal pathology for which the surgery is made. Patients under study were aged 6 years or more, therefore in those having old corneal processes concomitant amblyopia affected final visual outcome.

corneal transplantation; children

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