Long-Term Outcomes Of Pediatric Keratoplasty: A 10-Year Single-Center Experience
Published 2026 - 44th Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: FP22.01 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/f1z7-3228
Authors: Dr Kübra Tuğçe Arabaci Tur* 1 , Dr Çisil ERKAN POTA 2 , Prof. Dr Mustafa ÜNAL 3
1Department of Ophthalmology,Çorum Erol OLÇOK Training and Research Hospital,Çorum,Türkiye, 2Department of Ophthalmology,Akdeniz University Hospital,Antalya,Türkiye, 3Department of Ophthalmology,Private Practice,Antalya,Türkiye
Purpose
Long-term real-world data on pediatric keratoplasty remain limited.This study aimed to evaluate long-term visual outcomes, graft survival and postoperative complications in pediatric patients undergoing keratoplasty over a 10-year period.
Setting
Evaluation of patients in the pediatric age group who underwent keratoplasty between 2013 and 2023
Methods
87 eyes of 76 patients in the pediatric age group who underwent keratoplasty were included in the study. The diagnostic indications, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), graft survival and glaucoma incidence of the patients were evaluated.
Results
Mean age 13.6 ±3.9 (1-18).The mean follow-up time was 44 months. The most common KP indications were keratoconus (51 patients), corneal scars (26) and corneal dystrophies(2). Penetrating KP was performed in 61 eyes, deep anterior lamellar KP in 23 eyes and patch KP in 3 patients. Mean trephine diameter was 7.54±0.09, the punch diameter was 7.84±0.16. Preoperative BCVA was 1.2±0.7 logMAR, the postoperative BCVA was 0.49±0.63 logMAR. Glaucoma developed in 11(12.6%) eyes after KP. 6 patients were pseudophakic, 6 patients were aphakic. Postoperative trabeculectomy was performed in 2 patients.Rekeratoplasty was performed in 5 (5.7 %) eyes due to graft rejection. The KP indication had no influence on graft rejection or glaucoma incidence (p>0.05)
Conclusions
Keratoplasty in pediatric patients is an extremely difficult procedure associated with a high risk of graft failure or failure of amblyopia therapy in clear grafts. Nevertheless, graft rejection was observed in a small number of patients in our study. We believe that complications can be minimized by the right decision, the right timing and the right postoperative treatment.