Dr. ABHISHEK RANJAN

Dr. SUBHASH PRASAD

Abstract

AIM-To study outcome of therapeutic keratoplasty in severe microbial keratitis.

METHODS-Retrospective clinical audit of severe microbial keratitis, underwent therapeutic keratoplasty between April18-Nov19. Non-resolving microbial keratitis with or without perforation or advised for evisceration were included. At 3 months, the outcome was success, if globe integrity maintained without reinfection [complete-graft clear;partial-graft failed] and failure if graft reinfection [partial-infiltrate resolved;complete-evisceration].

RESULTS-27 cases(M:F=18:9) aged between 14-74 yrs(mean47.15yrs) included. 12 with large perforation and 15 non-resolving infiltrate of >8 mm. Success achieved in 81.48%(22/27)[59.26% complete;22.22% partial] and failure in 18.5%[14.8%partial;3.7%complete].

CONCLUSION-Therapeutic keratoplasty is a globe saving procedure in hopeless microbial keratitis with good anatomical outcome. So, primary evisceration is best avoided, if infection is limited to anterior segment.