The Use of Disparate Diameter Corneal Grafts to Obtain Average Postoperative Keratometry Readings

ABSTRACT: A series of patients who had undergone penetrating keratoplasty was examined to determine the effect the use of the disparate diameter graft technique had on final corneal keratometry. Average keratometry for a control population was found to be 43.50 diopters. Forty-eight phakic grafts were performed with a 0.2 mm donor to recipient disparity resulting in an average postop K of 42.50 diopters. Thirty-four aphakic grafts using a 0.5 mm disparity resulted in an average postop K of 43.0 diopters. While many factors contribute to final corneal curvature and astigmatism including accuracy of trephination, and choice of suture material and pattern, we feel these data show the importance of the choice of disparate diameters in obtaining average final keratometry readings.