Bm. Debroff et Ra. Thoft, SURGICAL RESULTS OF PENETRATING KERATOPLASTY IN ESSENTIAL IRIS ATROPHY, Journal of refractive and corneal surgery, 10(4), 1994, pp. 428-432
BACKGROUND: Results of penetrating keratoplasty in iridocorneal endoth
elial syndrome have been considered favorable based on past studies; h
owever, documented results in eyes specifically with essential iris at
rophy are lacking. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed to eva
luate all patients at the University of Pittsburgh with essential iris
atrophy who had undergone penetrating keratoplasty for corneal decomp
ensation over 21 years (1971-1992). RESULTS: Penetrating keratoplasty
had been performed on six eyes with essential iris atrophy for corneal
decompensation. All eyes postoperatively had evidence of persistent a
nterior uveitis resistant to corticosteroid treatment with one or more
episodes of graft reaction. Five of the six eyes (83.3%) ultimately w
ent on to graft failure. Two of the six eyes (33.3%) rejected grafts o
n two separate occasions. CONCLUSIONS: Penetrating keratoplasty in ess
ential iris atrophy was frequently associated with chronic anterior uv
eitis and immunologic graft failure.