urgery-Related Factor Influencing Corneal Neovacularization After Low-Rik Keratoplaty

Purpoe To identify the peed of corneal neovacularization (CNV) after penetrating keratoplaty (PK) and to evaluate the influence of urgery-related factor on potkeratoplaty CNV in keratoconu patient. Deign Propective, longitudinal, obervational, cae erie tudy. Method All conecutive primary PK performed for keratoconu by four experienced urgeon between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2002 at our department were included (n = 66 patient). tandardized corneal photograph taken preoperatively and at 6 week, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 month potoperatively were evaluated. Limbu uture ditance (LD), limbu graft ditance (LGD), inner uture angle (IA), and maximal extenion of CNV in digitized picture with 100-fold magnification were meaured at each of the 16 uture turning point at every timepoint. Reult Forty-four (67%) out of 66 corneal graft developed ome degree of CNV after PK, mot commonly from around the 12 o’clock poition. The mean peed of CNV growth wa 114 μm/month with the fatet growth occurring during the firt ix week after PK. There wa an invere correlation between CNV and LD, LGD, and IA (all P < .001). Ninety percent of all CNV developed with LD < 406 μm and with LGD < 1000 μm. uperior limbal localization between 11 and 1 o’clock i an independent rik factor for potoperative neovacularization, too (P < .001). Concluion mall LD, mall LGD, and narrow titching with mall IA were identified a potentially modifiable urgical rik factor for CNV after PK. The peed of CNV outgrowth wa mot pronounced in the firt week after PK making early potoperative control for CNV growth and initiation of antiangiogenic treatment important.