Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty for pellucid marginal degeneration

AbstractPurposeTo present the surgical outcomes of deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) for pellucid marginal degeneration (PMD).MethodsA retrospective review was performed in 16 eyes of 16 patients who underwent DALK at the King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between January 1, 2006 and December 30, 2009. Baring of Descemet’s membrane (DM) during DALK was achieved in 8 (50%) eyes; residual stroma was left intraoperatively in the remaining 8 (50%) eyes. The big bubble technique was performed in 10 (62.5%) eyes and manual dissection was performed in the remaining 6 (37.5%) eyes. Visual acuity (LogMAR notation), intraocular pressure, intraoperative complications and postoperative graft status were assessed.ResultsThe mean follow up was 14.6±8.2months (range 6–35months). The mean overall age was 31.4±9.6years (range, 19–50years). Visual acuity increased statistically significantly from 0.9±0.3 (range 0.5–1.6) preoperatively to 0.4±0.2 (range 0.0–0.7) at last follow-up (p<0.0001). There was a statistically significant improvement in postoperative sphere, cylinder, and spherical equivalent (p<0.035, p<0.001, and p