Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the most frequent indications, as well as the results of final visual acuity (VA) after penetrating keratoplasty (PK), performed by residents. Methods: A consecutive series of 159 cases of PK was followed during the period from January 1991 to October 1998, at the Medical School of São Jose do Rio Preto - "Hospital de Base", in terms of indication for penetrating keratoplasty and final visual acuity. The minimum follow-up to assess the final visual acuity was 6 months. The cases of penetrating keratoplasty were divided into 6 groups of preoperative diagnosis for better comparison and statistical analysis of the final visual acuity. Such groups were: keratoconus, pseudophakic bullous keratopathy, aphakic bullous keratopathy, Fuchs' endothelial distrophy, band keratopathy and leukomas. All surgeries were performed by residents under supervision. Results: Keratoconus was the group that reached the highest average increase of postoperative lines of visual acuity (7.55 ± 2.83) and band keratopathy the smallest one (0.33 ± 3.20). A significant difference was observed among the indications for penetrating keratoplasty when compared to developed countries, where keratoconus is the most predominant indication. Our analysis revealed that the most important indications for penetrating keratoplasty in decreasing order were: leukoma, pseudophakic bullous keratopathy, keratoconus, Fuchs' endothelial distrophy, aphakic bullous keratopathy and band keratopathy. Conclusion: Keratoconus showed significant difference of final visual acuity levels (p value < 0,05) when compared to the other 5 groups of penetrating keratoplasty indications.
Corneal opacity; Penetrating keratoplasty; Visual acuity; Developing countries; Hospital medical staff
