Indications of Penetrating Keratoplasty in Northern India

PURPOSE: To identify the indications for penetrating keratoplasty in northern India. METHODS: All the eye bank records of penetrating keratoplasties performed during the period from June 1997 to November 2003 at Rajendra Prasad Center for Ophthalmic Sciences were reviewed. RESULTS: During this period, 2022 penetrating keratoplasties were performed. The leading indications for penetrating keratoplasty were corneal scarring (38.03%) followed by acute infectious keratitis (28.38%), regrafting (11.5%), aphakic bullous keratopathy (7.27%), pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (6.18%), and corneal dystrophy (3.85%). Healed infectious keratitis (19.83%) was the most common subcategory among the eyes with corneal scarring followed by traumatic corneal scars (16.71%). Healed (19.83%) and active keratitis (28.38%) together accounted for the majority of keratoplasties (48.21%). In cataract-related corneal edema (13.45%), aphakic bullous keratopathy (7.27%) was almost as frequent as compared with pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (6.18%). CONCLUSIONS: Corneal infections either active or healed are the most common indication for keratoplasty in northern India.