Case records of patients who had undergone
cataract surgery alone (group A) or in combination with regrafting (group B) following initial therapeutic
penetrating keratoplasty between January 2000 and December 2001 were reviewed retrospectively. Main outcome measures studied were visual acuity,
astigmatism, and effect of the
cataract surgery on graft survival. Results were compared with eyes undergoing
cataract surgery after optical
keratoplasty and between eyes in groups A and B.
RESULTS: Frequency of
cataract surgery after therapeutic
keratoplasty was significantly greater than that following optical
keratoplasty [68 (52%) versus 47 (21%); P<0.001]. Fifty-eight eyes of 58 patients undergoing
cataract surgery after therapeutic
penetrating keratoplasty were analyzed in detail. Mean follow-up period was 8.9 months (+/-7.6 months). Thirty eyes underwent
cataract surgery alone (group A), and 28 eyes underwent
cataract surgery with regrafting (group B). Eyes that had undergone therapeutic
keratoplasty were significantly more likely to have opaque grafts requiring regrafting at the time of
cataract surgery than eyes that had undergone optical
keratoplasty [28 (48.3%) versus 5 (10.6%); P<0.001]. Incidence of graft failure after
cataract surgery did not differ significantly in eyes that had undergone therapeutic or optical
keratoplasty. Final visual acuity at last follow-up was 6/12 or better in 25 eyes (43%). There were no significant differences between eyes in groups A and B in terms of final visual acuity,
astigmatism, or graft failure rates.
CONCLUSIONS: