Evaluation of central macular thickness after penetrating keratoplasty

Aim: To evaluate the changes in central macular thickness after penetrating keratoplasty. Material and Methods: A total of 24 eyes of 24 patients who had undergone penetrating keratoplasty were included in the study. This study was performed retrospectively by reviewing the charts of the patients. Postoperative 1st week, 1st month, 3rd month, 6th month and 12th month mean total macular volume, central macular thickness, parafoveal area and perifoveal area thickness and retinal nevre fiber layer (RNFL) thickness results obtained with optic coherence tomography were compared. ANOVA test was used for statistical analysis. Results: The postoperative 1st week, 1st month, 3rd month, 6th month and 12th month mean total macular volume measurements were 7.03±0.2 mm³, 7.05±0.4 mm³, 7.0±0.6 mm³, 7.02±0.5 mm³ and 6.12±0.6 mm³, respectively. Mean central macular thickness measurements were 227.6±4.6 μm, 228.7±5.5 μm, 227.2±4.6 μm, 227.5±7.1 μm, 226.3±5.1μm respectively; mean parafoveal area thickness measurements were 290.2±3.7 μm, 289.9±7.8 μm, 288.7±6.3 μm, 288.8±4.7 μm, 288.6±8.3 μm respectively, mean perifoveal area thickness measurements were 261.1±4.2 μm, 261.4±1.9 μm, 260.4±3.6 μm, 259.8±2.7 μm, 259.3±4.7 μm respectively, and mean RNFL thickness measurements were 106.54±11.28 μm, 107.28±8.75 μm, 107.45±13.64 μm, 105.62±9.27 μm, 105.16±12.74 μm; respectively. Conclusion: No significant change was seen in macular thickness after penetrating keratoplasty. Although the macular thickness increases in the early postoperative stage, it decreases in time.