Abstract

Background: Keratoconus is a non-inflammatory disorder characterized by ectasia of the cornea, most commonly the central or inferior portion of the cornea, with eventual progressive protrusion and corneal thinning. To evaluate the effect of keratoconus severity on the visual and refractive outcomes after deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK).

Methods: This study enrolled 30 keratoconus-affected eyes that underwent DALK. The outcome measures, including postoperative best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), spherical equivalent refraction, keratometric astigmatism, were analyzed.

Results: Mean age of the patients was 21.25±8.6 years with the age range of 13 years to 31years. Out of the 30 patients, 21 were males and 9 were females. DALK was done in 14 patients in the right eye and 16 patients in the left eye. Pre-operatively corneal apical scar was seen in all cases. A 0.2mm larger graft was used in all patients. The mean refractive astigmatism preoperatively was -3.5D which changed to 0.40D, 0.86D, 0.33D at 1 month, 3 month, and 6 months postoperatively, respectively. The mean Snellen LogMAR BCVA was 1.14 + 0.38, 0.77 ± 0.26, 0.64 ± 0.29, and 0.60 ± 0.30 at baseline, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months respectively.

Conclusion: DALK is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of keratoconus. 

Keywords: DALK, Refractive error, Cornea.