Penetrating Keratoplasty with a Preserved Donor Cornea in Veterinary Ophthalmology

Abstract

The present article describes the penetrating keratoplasty using the technique of rehydration of donor cornea dehydrated over silica gel, as well as complications that can arise. The indications included corneal ulcers, descemetocoele, corneal sequestrum and corneal perforation. 37 (88.37%) out of 43 corneal transplants had a favorable outcome in surgeries with complete excision of abnormal tissues. In 5 cases (11.63%), the authors faced such complications as suture failure, formation of anterior synechias, incomplete epithelization after the suture removal, and transplant swelling reversed with the preservation of eye optical functions, and secondary glaucoma in the late postoperative period that ended up in eyeball endoprosthesis transplantation. Due to a high rate of efficiency of the proposed method, penetrating keratoplasty with rehydrated grafts can be recommended for the treatment in case of medical emergency experienced by cats and dogs.