Outcome analysis of cataract surgery following therapeutic keratoplasty.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the results of cataract surgery, in terms of visual outcome and effect on graft survival, in eyes that have previously undergone therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty for infective keratitis.


METHODS
Case records of patients who had undergone cataract surgery alone (group A) or in combination with regrafting (group B) following initial therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty between January 2000 and December 2001 were reviewed retrospectively. Main outcome measures studied were visual acuity, astigmatism, and effect of the cataract surgery on graft survival. Results were compared with eyes undergoing cataract surgery after optical keratoplasty and between eyes in groups A and B.


RESULTS
Frequency of cataract surgery after therapeutic keratoplasty was significantly greater than that following optical keratoplasty [68 (52%) versus 47 (21%); P<0.001]. Fifty-eight eyes of 58 patients undergoing cataract surgery after therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty were analyzed in detail. Mean follow-up period was 8.9 months (+/-7.6 months). Thirty eyes underwent cataract surgery alone (group A), and 28 eyes underwent cataract surgery with regrafting (group B). Eyes that had undergone therapeutic keratoplasty were significantly more likely to have opaque grafts requiring regrafting at the time of cataract surgery than eyes that had undergone optical keratoplasty [28 (48.3%) versus 5 (10.6%); P<0.001]. Incidence of graft failure after cataract surgery did not differ significantly in eyes that had undergone therapeutic or optical keratoplasty. Final visual acuity at last follow-up was 6/12 or better in 25 eyes (43%). There were no significant differences between eyes in groups A and B in terms of final visual acuity, astigmatism, or graft failure rates.


CONCLUSIONS
Visual results of cataract surgery following therapeutic keratoplasty are comparable to those following optical keratoplasty. Combining a repeat keratoplasty for a failed graft with the cataract surgery does not significantly affect the final outcome.
Parmar
Pragya
P
Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Ophthalmology, Joseph Eye Hospital, Tiruchirapalli 620 001, India. amjad26@sify.com
Salman
Amjad
A
Kalavathy
C M
CM
Thomas
Philip A
PA
Jesudasan
C A Nelson
CA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000209:etiology; D002386:Cataract / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating / Q000009:adverse effects; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology