AbstractIntroduction: Corneal Opacity is common cause of ocular morbidity. Occurrence of Corneal blindness alters from nation to nation and from population to population. There is even variation within the developing countries like India. Aims: To study the efficacy of penetrating keratoplasty in various corneal disorders which resulted in corneal blindness in my geographical area as well as to improve social life in such poor socioeconomic area. Materials and Methods: This is a hospital based prospective study. Total seventy patients diagnosed with non- healing corneal ulcer, corneal perforation, bullous keratopathy, autoimmune disease, infectious keratitis, trauma to the eyeball including chemical burns as well as other combined disorders were indicated for total penetrating keratoplasty. Results: Total seventy eyes of seventy patients were operated using the technique of total PKP over a period of 2 years. Among all the conditions Non Healing Corneal ulcer was the main indication. The major post-op complication for which the treatment failed was the persistent epithelial defect. Conclusion: Full thickness penetrating keratoplasty was found to be surgical boon and effective tool in the management of various corneal disorders. It was also found that it maintain globe integrity and improve visual acuity as well as social life.
Keywords: Corneal Opacity, Corneal blindness, PKP