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Risk for ocular hypertension increased after PK
Ocular hypertension is likely during the long-term postoperative period after penetrating keratoplasty, and pre-existing glaucoma and additional procedures during PK are the main risk factors, according to a study.
Hospital charts from 146 PK procedures from 2001 to 2003 were reviewed for preoperative and postoperative data in order to determine risk factors, incidence, patient characteristics, response to pressure-lowering medical therapy and graft outcome associated with IOP elevation.
The overall incidence of at least one consecutive period of ocular hypertension occurring during an average follow-up of 24.4 months after PK was 47.9% (70 eyes), with 43 cases occurring less than 1 month postoperatively and 27 cases occurring more than 1 month after surgery.
Of those 70 eyes, 35 had a second episode of ocular hypertension after the first episode was controlled, with 29 eyes needing new or additional pressure-lowering drugs.
Patients with a history of glaucoma experienced higher IOP and earlier ocular hypertension and required more medications during periods of pressure elevation, as opposed to those without pre-existing glaucoma (P = .009).
Twenty-one patients (14.4%) had an additional surgical procedure with PK, of which 84.6% had postoperative elevated IOP (P = .007).
Disclosure: The authors have no relevant financial disclosures.