title: Clinical indications for penetrating keratoplasty in Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital, 1996-1999.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the leading indication for penetrating keratoplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors retrospectively performed a chart review of the hospital records of all patients who underwent penetrating keratoplasty at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital between January 1996 and December 1999.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 45 corneal transplants were performed. The leading indications for penetrating keratoplasty, in order of decreasing frequency, were bullous keratopathy (28.9%), corneal scar (22.2%), corneal dystrophy and degeneration (20.0%), corneal ulcer (17.8%), regraft (8.9%), and trauma (2.2%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bullous keratopathy was the leading indication for penetrating keratoplasty at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital from 1996 to 1999, followed by corneal scar. The major cause of bullous keratopathy was associated with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
authors.forename: Winai
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chaidaroon
authors.forename: Somsanguan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ausayakhun
authors.forename: Suphop
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ngamtiphakorn
authors.forename: Jeradach
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Prasitsilp
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006766:Hospitals, County; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013785:Thailand; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity