[Therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty: indications and results in Tunisia].
OBJECTIVE
To report the experience of the Tunis Institute of Ophthalmology (Tunisia) in therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty.


METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed 35 patients after therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty over a period of 6 years (between September 2002 and September 2008).


RESULTS
The mean patient age was 49.3 years. Men outnumbered women by a ratio of 2.5 to 1. The mean follow-up was 13.5 months. Corneal diseases within a therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty were divided into infectious keratitis (21 eyes) and noninfectious diseases (14 eyes). Herpetic keratitis was the most common etiology (11 eyes). The anatomical success rate was 92.4%, with infection eradicated in 80% of cases. The graft clarity at the end of follow-up was 54.2%. Rejection was the leading cause of graft opacification (50%). Final visual acuity was better than 1/10 in 25.7% of patients. Recovery of useful vision was observed in 45.7% of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty is a surgical technique that has proved its effectiveness in maintaining the integrity of the eyeball. The prognosis for this intervention would probably be better if it could be postponed.
Limaiem
R
R
Service B, Institut Hedi Rais d'Ophtalmologie de Tunis, 1006 Tunis, Tunisie. rlimaiem@yahoo.fr
Mnasri
H
H
El Maazi
A
A
Mghaieth
F
F
Chaabouni
A
A
El Matri
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014416:Tunisia; D055815:Young Adult