REASONS FOR CORNEAL GRAFT FAILURE DURING THE FIRST POSTOPERATIVE YEAR

Problem The reasons for corneal graft failure during the first postope rative year were examined. Patients and methods The functional and mor phological parameters were recorded prospectively on 210 eyes with pen etrating keratoplasty postoperatively after 1, 4 and 12 months. Conclu sions 1 month postoperatively one graft, 4 months after surgery 5 graf ts, and 12 months after keratoplasty 15 grafts had failed. The reasons were: 3 cases of irreversible rejection? 4 retrocomeal membranes, 4 p ersisting corneal erosions with ulceration, and 4 stromal infections ( 3 Herpes, 1 Akanthamoeba). During the first postoperative year, in our patients corneal graft rejection was a rare event accounting for 3 of 15 graft failures with an incidence of 1.4% in all grafts studied.