Evaluation of indication and related causes of keratoplasty during 2 years in Emam Reza and Vali-e-Asr hospitals of Birjand

Penetrating Keratoplasty is the final treatment of a considerable percent of corneal diseases. Besides, it has been the most common human tissue-transplant during the past forty years. Because of limited regional studies in our country, the present study was carried out to evaluate indication and related causes of keratoplasty during 2 years (20 September 2000–20 September 2002) in Emam Reza and Vali-e-asr hospitals of Birjand. This study is a retrospective analysis of 80 PK performed on 80 patients during the 2 year period in the two hospitals affiliated to Birjand University of Medical Sciences. The obtained data had different indexes such as age (over 25 and under 25), Job (3 groups) including husbandry, hard urban jobs (i.e. laborers and artisans), and easy urban jobs (clerks, drivers, housewives, students). Personal characteristics of patients, preoperative clinical diagnosis, transplanted eye, and indication of PK were recorded through self-designed questionnaires. Finally, the obtained data was analyzed through SPSS software using statistical t- and chi-square tests at the significant level =0.05. Totally, clinical files of 80 patients were surveyed. Necessity of PK was due to Leukoma (62.5%), Keratoconus (20%), and other cases (17.5%). Leukoma was 68.4% and 73.9% in males and females, respectively. Keratoconus was found to be the most prevalent reason for PK among under 25 patients Corneal opacity was found as the common cause which necessitated PK in Birjand. This finding contrasts other findings and may be due to particular conditions of the area and prevalence of cornea trauma and infection caused by barberry thorns, which may lead to leukoma. This, of course, demands further studies.