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Jeong, Oh, and Yoon: Analysis of Long-Term Change in Corneal Sensitivity after Penetrating Keratoplasty and Associated Tear Film Parameters
Original Article
Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 2012; 53(9): 1247-1253.

Published online: 17 September 2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2012.53.9.1247

Analysis of Long-Term Change in Corneal Sensitivity after Penetrating Keratoplasty and Associated Tear Film Parameters

Se Hyeong Jeong, MD, Han Jin Oh, MD, Kyung Chul Yoon, MD, PhD

Department of Ophthalmology, Chonnam National University Hospital, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.

Address reprint requests to Kyung Chul Yoon, MD, PhD. Department of Ophthalmology, Chonnam National University Hospital, #42 Jebong-ro, Dong-gu, Gwangju 501-757, Korea. Tel: 82-62-220-6741, Fax: 82-62-227-1642, kcyoon@jnu.ac.kr

Received 13 January 2012       Accepted 30 June 2012

Copyright © 2012 The Korean Ophthalmological Society

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the long-term changes in the corneal sensitivity and to analyze which tear film parameters correlate with corneal sensitivity after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP).

Methods

Twenty-eight eyes of 28 patients who underwent PKP were included in the present study. Corneal sensitivity, Schirmer test, tear break-up time, tear clearance rate, and keratoepitheliopathy were evaluated at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. Then, which tear film parameters correlated with corneal sensitivity during the follow-up period were analyzed.

Results

Corneal sensitivity was 5.18 ± 3.96 mm at one month postoperatively and increased to 29.64 ± 12.39 mm (p < 0.05) at 24 months postoperatively but was still not in the normal range. Tear break-up time and keratoepitheliopathy improved at postoperative three months and six months, respectively, compared with one month postoperatively, and both measures normalized at 24 months postoperatively. Schirmer test results and tear clearance rate were in the normal range during the follow-up period. Corneal sensitivity was correlated with tear break-up time from three to 24 months postoperative and with tear clearance rate from one month to 24 months postoperative (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Change in corneal sensitivity after penetrating keratoplasty correlates with tear break-up time and tear clearance rate; therefore, tear break-up time and tear clearance rate can be used as parameters for management of dry eye after PKP.

Keywords: Corneal sensitivity, Penetrating keratoplasty, Tear film

Figures and Tables

Figure 1
Changes in corneal sensitivity (A), tear film and ocular surface parameters including tear break-up time (B), Schirmer test (C), tear clearance rate (D), and keratoepitheliopathy (E) after penetrating keratoplasty. Dotted line indicates the lowest value of the normal range (*p < 0.05, compared with 1 month data).
jkos-53-1247-g001
Table 1
Demographics and preoperative diagnosis of patients who underwent penetrating keratoplasty
jkos-53-1247-i001

Values are presented as mean ± SD (range) or number (%).

Table 2
Correlation between corneal sensitivity and tear film parameters at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after penetrating keratoplasty
jkos-53-1247-i002

CST = corneal sensitivity test; BUT = tear break-up time; TCR = tear clearance rate; KEP = keratoepitheliopathy.

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