OBJECTIVE To review 30 years' clinical experience with Fuchs corneal endothelial dystrophy leading to penetrating keratoplasty (PK). METHODS We reviewed the clinical records of patients diagnosed histopathologically as having Fuchs corneal endothelial dystrophy who underwent PK at Duke University Medical Center between January 1, 1972, and December 31, 2001. This observational case series inc...

We retrospectively studied the postoperative results in nine patients with corneal scarring due to herpes zoster ophthalmicus who underwent penetrating keratoplasty. This was a highly selected group that satisfied all of the following criteria: (a) absence of active disease of the ocular surface and eyelids, (b) intraocular pressure under control, and (c) absence of active keratouveitis. Penetr...

The effect of corneal edema and the effect of penetrating keratoplasty upon the accuracy of electronic applanation tonometry were studied in rabbits. Pressure readings made directly from cannulas in the anterior chamber correlated well with those made by electronic applanation tonometry both in severe corneal edema and 24 hours after penetrating keratoplasty. The advantages of electronic applan...

PURPOSE To compare short-term outcomes of repeat penetrating keratoplasty (PK) to those of Boston type 1 keratoprosthesis (KPro). Our hypothesis was that visual outcomes were superior for KPro compared to PK. METHODS This is a retrospective, nonrandomized, intermediate-term case series. Consecutive adults with one or more failed PKs who underwent either PK or KPro between January 2008 and Dec...

Herein we introduce a simple approach for clearing an edematous cornea during vitreoretinal surgery in eyes with decompensated corneal endothelium, allowing the surgeon to postpone penetrating keratoplasty. This technique was performed in 3 eyes by filling the anterior chambers with air or silicone oil, and sufficiently cleared the media for completion of vitrectomy. This simple technique enabl...

After preliminary testing with pig, dog, rabbit, monkey, cat, and human cadaver eyes the CLCC system has been used for penetrating and lamellar keratoplasty in human subjects. Clinical experience covers a broad range of corneal pathology. Detailed operative instructions and observations are given. In the experimental situation the CLCC is being used to achieve deep lamellar corneal dissection f...

■ Fuchs endothelial dystrophy (FED) is a progressive disorder of the corneal endothelium with accumulation of focal excrescences called guttae and thickening of Descemet’s membrane, leading to stromal edema and loss of vision ■ The inheritance of FED is autosomal dominant, with modifiers such as increased prevalence in the elderly and in females ■ Corneal endothelial cells are the major “pump” ...

PURPOSE To determine central keratocyte and subbasal nerve densities after penetrating keratoplasty (PK) in clear grafts and in grafts with late endothelial failure (LEF). METHODS Ninety-nine clear grafts of 74 patients and 21 grafts with LEF in 19 patients were examined by confocal microscopy at 1 to 31 years after PK. Keratocyte density and number of keratocytes in a full-thickness column o...