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Study: PK can have good long-term results in pediatric patients

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Although long-term survival of corneal grafts is possible with pediatric patients, normal vision must develop before initial corneal opacification for good postop vision to be achieved.

Kathy McClellan, MD, and colleagues at the University of Sydney, Australia, reviewed factors affecting survival of corneal grafts and visual acuity following penetrating keratoplasty (PK).

The study included 18 eyes of 16 children who ranged in age from 2 weeks to 14 years old. Overall, 19 PK procedures were performed between 1984 and 2002. Average follow-up was 6.6 years.

Of the grafts, 73.7% remained clear for up to 14 years postop. However, only 14.2% of patients who had congenital indications for the corneal graft achieved a visual acuity of 6/60 or better. This compared to a visual acuity of 6/12 or better for all cases of keratoconus.

The study was published in the October issue of British Journal of Ophthalmology.