RECURRENT KERATOPATHY AFTER PENETRATING KERATOPLASTY FOR ANIRIDIA

Corneal lesions in aniridia include peripheral pannus and epithelial a bnormalities that may advance centrally, resulting in the need for pen etrating keratoplasty. Three patients with aniridia who underwent repe ated corneal surgical procedures (one keratectomy and six penetrating keratoplasties) are described herein. A clinicopathological correlatio n was performed. In all three patients there was evidence of recurrent pannus and epitheliopathy on histopathological examination, which cor relates with the clinical findings. These findings suggest that the pa thophysiology of recurrent aniridia keratopathy may be related to a pr imary abnormality in the stem cells of the recipient corneal limbus. A niridic pannus and epitheliopathy recur in grafts after penetrating ke ratoplasty and threaten the transplanted cornea. The risk of recurrent keratopathy should be considered when recommending a surgical procedu re to patients with aniridia.