Comparison of indications and results of penetrating keratoplasty in older geriatric patients with those in younger geriatric patients; [İlerı yaş ve daha genç gerıatrik hastalardakı penetran keratoplastı endikasyonlarinin ve sonuçlarinin karşilaştirilmasi]

Introduction: This study aimed to compare the indications and outcomes of penetrating keratoplasty in geriatric patients and to compare the younger geriatric patients with older geriatric patients. Materials and Method: We evaluated the data of 489 eyes of 427 patients who underwent corneal transplantation surgery between August 2010 and July 2015 at a tertiary referral center in Turkey. We included 90 eyes of 81 patients aged ≥ 65 years with at least 1-year follow-up data were. The patients were divided into Groups 1 and 2 comprising patients aged 65–79 and ≥80 years, respectively. Results: Groups 1 and 2 included 66 and 24 eyes, respectively. Bullous keratopathy was the most common indication for penetrating keratoplasty surgery in both groups (Group 1=34.9%, Group 2=66.7%, p=0.036). The incidence of secondary glaucoma after surgery (Group 1=18.2%, Group 2=15.6%, p=0.254) and graft survival period (Group 1=29.9±15.8 months, Group 2=26.7±13.2 months, p=0.374) were not significantly different between the two groups. The graft rejection and failure rates between the groups were analyzed, and no difference was observed between them (p=0.531, chi-squared=0.392 for graft rejection; p=0.699, chi-squared=0.150 for graft failure). Conclusion: Bullous keratopathy as an indication for penetrating keratoplasty is significantly more common in older geriatric patients. The outcomes of penetrating keratoplasty in older geriatric patients are as good as those in younger geriatric patients. © 2019, Geriatrics Society. All rights reserved.