title: Corneal transplantation in Hungary (1946-2009).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To identify changing trends in indications for corneal transplantation in Debrecen, Hungary over the past 64 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study, at the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Debrecen, Hungary.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four thousand seven hundred and seventy-eight patients who underwent keratoplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  The analysis was based on medical charts, surgical descriptions and eye bank records.
  
  
  METHODS
  Keratoplasty indications between January 1946 and December 2009. For an easier overview, the 64-year interval was divided into seven time periods (1946-1955, I; 1956-1965, II; 1966-1975, III; 1976-1985, IV; 1986-1995, V; 1996-2005, VI; 2006-2009, VII).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over the 64 years, clinical indications for keratoplasty were corneal scarring (24.9%), regraft (18.6%), keratoconus (18.6%), pseudophakic/aphakic corneal oedema (12%), stromal corneal dystrophies (6%), non-infectious keratitis (4.7%), chemical injuries (3.3%), corneal degenerations (3%), mechanical trauma (1.7%), infectious keratitis (1.4%), endothelial corneal dystrophies (1.3%) and others (4.5%). During periods I-IV, corneal scarring was the most common indication for corneal transplantation. In period V, corneal ectasia became the leading clinical indication. Regraft was the most frequent indication in period VI. In the most recent years, an emerging tendency in pseudophakic/aphakic corneal oedema as the indication for keratoplasty was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Hungary, the number of grafts has increased greatly in the past 64 years, the transplantation rates are similar to those of industrial countries. Indications for corneal transplantation have changed considerably over the last half decade from corneal scarring to corneal ectasia, regraft and pseudophakic/aphakic corneal oedema.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Debrecen, Medical and Health Science Center, Debrecen, Hungary. lmodis@dragon.klte.hu
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Módis
authors.forename: Eszter
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Szalai
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Facskó
authors.forename: Mariann
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fodor
authors.forename: Timea
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Komár
authors.forename: András
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berta
mesh_terms: D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005125:Eye Banks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006782:Hospitals, Special / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary / Q000453:epidemiology; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012042:Registries; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies