Histologic findings in a series of 1,540 corneal allografts

We present a series of 1,540 corneal allografts studied since 1982. Corneal edema was the major lesion in 439 corneal specimens (28.4%). Keratitis was the largest group with 378 cases (24.5%), including 134 cases of corneal s carring (8.7%). There were 113 cases of herpes simplex virus keratitis (7.3 %). mostly of the disciform stromal type, and 60 cases of non herpetic inte rstitial keratitis (3.9%), 44 of superficial keratitis (2.8%) and 10 of ulc erative keratitis (0.6%). Among the 17 other cases (1.1%), there were 3 of fungal keratitis, 2 syphilitic keraritis and one case of acanthamoebic kera titis. The third group was ibr med by corneal dystrophies with 376 cases (2 4.4%). There were 192 keratoconus (12.5%). 121 Fuchs' dystrophies (7.9%), 2 8 calcific band keratopathies (1.8%), 18 had corneal dystrophies with amylo id deposits and 16 did not. There were 169 regrafts (11%) and 135 traumatic lesions (8.8%). Among the 43 miscellaneous cases (2.8%), there were 22 cas es with previous refractive eye surgery, one corneal myxoma. 5 cases of dys plasia, 5 pterigia. 3 sclerocornea, one fish-eye disease, one floppy eyelid syndrome and 5 unclassifiable cases. The mechanisms of these lesions are mainly related to an autoimmune disease rn most cases of herpes keratitis. Some rare forms of corneal dystrophies contain amyloid deposits produced by an abnormal kerato-eprtheilin. Cases o f graft failure are not particulary frequent, due to the avascularity of th e cornea and its particular immune status.