title: Long-term follow-up for bullous keratopathy after sato-type anterior-posterior corneal refractive surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate cases of bullous keratopathy resulting from anterior-posterior radial corneal keratotomy (Sato-type operation) performed from 1951 to 1959.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Records for a total of 220 eyes of 139 patients with follow-up examinations were examined. The age at operation vs time to occurrence of bullous keratopathy after the original operation was evaluated in four age groups. Endothelial cell density was measured in 11 long-term postoperative eyes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean time to development of bullous keratopathy after surgery was 26.9 +/- 8.8 years (mean +/- SD; n = 173 eyes). The length of this period was not affected by the age of the patient at the time of the original surgery. Average endothelial cell density in 11 eyes of 11 patients 28.5 +/- 3.7 years after surgery was 639 +/- 135 cells/mm(2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although some corneas remained clear more than 26 years after anterior-posterior radial keratotomy, the risk of late corneal decompensation continues to exist for these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. h-kwn313@lily.ocn.ne.jp
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawano
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Uesugi
authors.forename: Kiyoo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakayasu
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kanai
mesh_terms: D002452:Cell Count; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007646:Keratotomy, Radial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D054140:Refractive Surgical Procedures; D013997:Time Factors