Evaluation of the Central Corneal Thickness with Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomogram after Penetrating Keratoplasty.

INTRODUCTION: Graft central thickness evaluates the graft quality which affects the outcome of Penetrating Keratoplasty (PK). It varies at different point of time after PK. Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography (ASOCT) can measure graft's central thickness with quite high precision.

AIM: The purpose of the study was to monitor the Central Corneal thickness (CCT) with ASOCT after PK and to evaluate its relationship with the pre-operative diagnosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is an observational retrospective study where records of optical PK done in December 2012 and June 2015 were reviewed. Graft central thickness were analysed by ASOCT for all the patients post-operatively at first post-operative day, 3 and 6 months post PK by pachymetry scan and the images captured were analysed for CCT with inbuilt calipers.

RESULTS: Fifty one eyes of 50 patients with age range of 17-80years (mean 51.64years ±SD 18.45 years) with clear grafts were reviewed in the present study. All subjects recruited were analysed for the indications of PK. Adherent leucoma 20(39.21%) was most common indication for PK. Mean CCT were 647.31±90.40, 605.31±75.08,564.66±66.26 and 537.37±64.09 respectively on first post-operative day, 1, 3 and 6 months. Graft CCT significantly decreased between first post-operative day and 1 month and it showed further decrease at 3 to 6 months post PK. The CCT at 6 month post-surgery showed a strongly positive correlation with the Intraocular Pressure (IOP) (r=0.66) and weakly positive correlation with Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) (r=0.28).

CONCLUSION: Graft central thickness is considered to be quantitative method for evaluating corneal oedema post PK. CCT decreases in post-operative period irrespective of indications of PK.