Correlation between the graft–host junction of penetrating keratoplasty by anterior segment-optical coherence tomography and the magnitude of postoperative astigmatism

• Main Authors: Ghada Azab Nassar, Shaimaa Abd El Salam Arfeen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2017-01-01
• Series: Indian Journal of Ophthalmology
• Subjects: Anterior segment-optical coherence tomography; corneal topography; graft–host junction; penetrating keratoplasty; postoperative astigmatism
• Online Access: http://www.ijo.in/article.asp?issn=0301-4738;year=2017;volume=65;issue=7;spage=574;epage=578;aulast=Nassar
• ISSN: 0301-4738; 1998-3689

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the alignment pattern of the graft–host junction after penetrating keratoplasty (PK) by anterior segment-optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and to correlate this pattern with the magnitude of postoperative astigmatism. Methods: This retrospective observational study was carried out on forty patients who underwent PK from February 2013 to August 2014. AS-OCT was performed, and the graft–host junctions were classified into well-apposed junction, malapposed junction, and equally apposed junction. Mal-apposition is subdivided into gap and protrusion. The correlations between clinical characteristics, wound profiles from the AS-OCT, and the magnitude of postoperative astigmatism by Sirius camera (Costruzione Strumenti Oftalmici [CSO], Florence, Italy (CSO, Sirius), were analyzed. Results: Graft–host junctions from forty patients were analyzed; 18 eyes had well-apposed junctions, ten eyes had malapposed junctions, and 12 had equally apposed junctions. The mean cylinder was −9.44 ± −4.00D in well-apposed group, −13.40 ± −5.01D in malapposed group, and −4.67 ± −0.94D in equally apposed group. Alignment pattern of the graft–host junction correlated significantly with the magnitude of astigmatism (P = 0.034). Preoperative corneal diseases did not have an effect on the magnitude of astigmatism (P = 0.123). Conclusion: The alignment pattern of the graft–host junction by AS-OCT can explain the postoperative astigmatism after PK where it correlates significantly with the magnitude of astigmatism.