Several factors influence PK graft survival at 1 year

Cornea. 2011;30(7):760-764.

Several risk factors influenced first-year graft survival rates after penetrating keratoplasty, a study found.

Independent risk factors for a lower survival rate included one or more episodes of reversible rejection, active inflammation, pre-existing corneal vascularization, intraoperative complications, graft size smaller than 7.25 mm, graft size larger than 8.5 mm, preoperative glaucoma, and a preoperative diagnosis of regraft or trauma.

Irreversible rejection occurred in 114 patients, making it the leading cause of PK failure, the study authors found.

"This information should be useful to patients and surgeons with respect to determining prognosis and clinical decision making in relation to [PK]," the study authors said.

The prospective longitudinal study analyzed a 10-year period of electronic records from the New Zealand National Eye Bank that included 1,820 PKs. Of the 1,629 that had 1-year follow-up data, 1,429 (87%) had a positive survival outcome.

Donor age and source, cause of death, death-to-preservation interval, endothelial cell density, donor lens status and storage duration were not significantly associated with a lower survival rate.

Sixty percent of the eyes experienced a best corrected visual acuity of 6/12, with a mean of 6/15.