Therapeutic Penetrating Keratoplasty In The 1St Wave Of Covid-19 For Severe Microbial Keratitis
Published 2024 - 42nd Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: PO717 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/nwcx-q931
Authors: Meena Lakshmipathy* 1 , Anand A Ramaswamy 2 , Mridula Vijayaraghavan 1
1cornea and anterior segment,medical research Foundation,chennai,India, 2microbiologyy,medical research Foundation,chennai,India
Purpose
To analyse the aetiology, risf factors and outcomes of patients undergoing therapeutic keratoplasty for severe microbial keratitis in the first wave of COVID-19 ( March-September)in a tertiary care centre in South India
Setting
Study conducted at a tertiary level Eye care hospital in South India with referral laboratory services
Methods
Retrospective, Interventional Case series in tertiary care Eye hi=ospital with referral laboratory services .
Results
11 eyes of 10 patients ( 5 males and 5 females)were included. Initating insult of trauma in 3 patients and 3 patients were detected diabetic. All patients were COVID negative.Th mean age of patients undergoing therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty (TPK) was 53.36 years. The most common etiology was fungal keratitis. Glycerol preserved donor cornea 3 were used along with 8 donors in cornisol media. Culture positivity of button was 81.9% (9 eyes).At last follow up 10 eyes had anatomical restoration and 1 eye phthisical.Mean Preoperative visual acuity was 3.46 ± 1.60 Log-MAR units, while on the last follow-up, it was 3.58± 1.69 Log-MAR units.(P=0.8 ).
Conclusions
The emphasis is on complete microbiological evaluation even during pandemic helped the eradication of infection. Fungal keratitis was the most common aetiology and with availability of medications at hospital pharmacy was added advantage.Previiously treated patients had to undergo TPK further emphasizing the need for microbiology. The COVID-19 pandemic also saw the emergence of increasing use of teleophthalmology which was useful during lockdown