The study of glaucoma after penetrating keratoplasty

Incidence and risk factors for postkeratoplasty glaucoma in tertiary care center, India

BACKGROUND

Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness after penetrating keratoplasty (PK) and its early diagnosis and management is mandatory to salvage the graft.

AIMS

This study aimed to evaluate the incidence and risk factors for post penetrating keratoplasty glaucoma (PKG).

METHODS

Data of 155 eyes of 155 patients were reviewed retrospectively who underwent PK from March 2013 to February 2016. Data were analyzed from recipient records for recipient age, sex, indications, type of PK, lens status, recipient graft size or any additional procedure. Detailed ophthalmological examination was recorded for all cases including best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), slit lamp examination, intraocular pressure (IOP) by applanation tonometry or tonopen, central corneal thickness (CCT) and gonioscopy. IOP measurement records were reviewed at each visit of one week, two weeks,one, three and six months and if IOP was elevated (>22 mmHg) medical management was initiated. Uncontrolled IOP with antiglaucoma medication (AGM) required surgical management.

RESULTS

Overall incidence of raised IOP after PK was 32.25%. Increase in IOP post PK was reported mainly in 32 (64%) among age group >40 years. Raised IOP showed significant association with age group, indications of PK, recipient size and CCT (P value 0.00, 0.01, 0.00, 0.00) respectively. Two weeks after PK 46 (29.67%) patients reported an increase in IOP ,47(30.32 %) after 1 months, 33 (21.29%) at 3 months and 30 (19.35%) at 6 months. In 11 (39.28%) cases cataract was major long term complication seen in PKG cases. 35 (70%) cases of PKG were treated medically and 15 (30%) patients required surgical treatment.

CONCLUSION

Subjects with age group >40 years, corneal opacity, increased recepient size and increased CCT are risk factors for PKG. IOP monitoring in early post operative period especially one month after PK is mandatory to avoid graft failure due to PKG which is difficult to diagnose otherwise.

Risk factors and incidence of ocular hypertension after penetrating keratoplasty

PURPOSE

Ocular hypertension is a potentially serious complication after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP). Our objective is to determine the risk factors, incidence, patient characteristics, response to pressure-lowering medical therapy, and graft outcome associated with elevation of intraocular pressure after PKP.

METHODS

One hundred forty-six consecutive eyes that had PKP between June 2001 and June 2003 were operated and managed at Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center. Chart review was performed seeking preoperative and postoperative data on risk factors for ocular hypertension after PKP. Univariate and logistic regression analysis were performed to identify significant risk factors.

RESULTS

After surgery, 70 eyes (47.9%) had at least 1 period of ocular hypertension, with a mean intraocular pressure (IOP) of 27.15±5.66 mm Hg. Ocular hypertension appeared after a mean postoperative period of 70.3±15.8 days, and continued for an average period of 15.6±2.0 days. In 35 eyes (23.9%), a second episode of IOP elevation was noted 212.2±46.8 days after the surgery. Logistic regression analysis revealed that preexisting glaucoma (P=0.009) and an additional surgical procedure combined with PKP (P=0.007) were the main factors predicting ocular hypertension after PKP. In 11 eyes (7.53%) the topical pressure-lowering therapy failed, and they required glaucoma filtering surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of ocular hypertension after PKP is high, and at least 1 episode of high IOP was noted in almost half of our patients. A history of preexisting glaucoma and an additional surgical procedure combined with PKP were found to be significant factors predicting the occurrence of ocular hypertension.