[Research of the change tendency of corneal transplantation indications from 2000 to 2009].

Objective: To analyzed retrospectively the indications of corneal transplantations, including penetrating keratoplasty (PKP), lamellar keratoplasty (LKP) and corneal transplantation combined with anterior and posterior segment surgery in Qingdao Eye Hospital, Shandong Eye Institute. And compare the changes of the indications between the first five years and the last five years.

Methods: The patients who received PKP, LKP and corneal transplantation combined with anterior and posterior segment surgeries in Qingdao Eye Hospital, Shandong Eye Institute between January 2000 and December 2009 were reviewed retrospectively. From 2000 to 2009, 3649 cases (3741 eyes) of corneal transplantations have complete data, including male 2518 cases (2582 eyes), female 1131 cases (1159 eyes); PKP 2594 cases (2667 eyes), LKP 1055 cases (1074 eyes). Compare and analysis the indications and its changes between 2000 - 2004 and 2005 - 2009 two periods.

Results: During the first period, the leading indications for PKP, in order of decreasing frequency, were purulent keratitis (440 cases, 442 eyes), keratoconus (241 cases, 274 eyes), herpes simplex keratitis (HSK) (229 cases, 229 eyes), the leading indications for LKP were purulent keratitis (221 cases, 221 eyes), corneal burn (including thermal and chemical burn) (106 cases, 106 eyes), others (mainly refers to the phlyctenular keratitis, interstitial keratitis, et al) (79 cases, 79 eyes), the ratio of PKP and LKP is 2.5 to 1.0. During the second period the leading indications for PKP, in order of decreasing frequency, were purulent keratitis (330 cases, 330 eyes), HSK (124 cases, 124 eyes), keratoconus (99 cases, 105 eyes), the leading indications for LKP were purulent keratitis (230 cases, 236 eyes), keratoconus (97 cases, 101 eyes), corneal dystrophy and degeneration (42 cases, 49 eyes), the ratio of PKP and LKP is 1.7 to 1.0.

Conclusions: Purulent keratitis is the main indication of corneal transplantation, the choice of LKP significantly increase. LKP has become the first surgical choice of purulent keratitis and keratoconus.