[Postmortem evaluation of corneal astigmatism after astigmatism oriented penetrating keratoplasty].
BACKGROUND
Reduction of astigmatism following penetrating keratoplasty can be achieved if the graft is oriented according to astigmatism parameters in donor and host (AOPKP). Postmortem evaluation of these parameters is therefore essential. The aim of our investigation was to compare postmortem measurements using a hand-held keratometer with those of the living donor's astigmatism.


METHODS
The 72-year-old female patient had undergone AOPKP on her right eye. After death the astigmatism in the right eye was evaluated 4.5 h postmortem using a hand-held keratometer. After explantation, the eyeball was examined by computer-assisted topography (TMS-1).


CONCLUSIONS
We could show that hand keratometry in situ is reliable for evaluating astigmatism in donor eyes after death. As far as our AOPKP study is concerned, these results are of great interest. Reduction of postoperative astigmatism following penetrating keratoplasty is only possible if data on astigmatism of the donor and host corneas are available.
Reichelt
J A
JA
Klinik für Ophthalmologie an der Christian-Albrechts-Universität Kiel, Hegewischstrasse 2, 24105 Kiel. jreichelt@ophthalmol.uni-kiel.de
Grütters
G
G
Nölle
B
B
D000368:Aged; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D019781:Corneal Topography; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D005260:Female; D005642:Fuchs' Endothelial Dystrophy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014019:Tissue Donors