Intraocular Pressure Changes Following Different Keratoplasty Techniques and Association with Cornea Parameters and anterior Chamber Depth

Abstract Purpose To evaluate early intraocular pressure (IOP) changes following different keratoplasty techniques and to investigate the relationship between corneal thickness (CT), keratometry values, anterior chamber depth (ACD) and IOP changes. Methods We included patients who underwent penetrating keratoplasty (PK), deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) and Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK). ACD, CT, and keratometry measurements were repeated postoperatively at hour 24, week 1, and month 1. IOP measurements were repeated at postoperative hours 6 and 24, week 1, and month 1 by Tono-Pen XL. Results Twenty-two patients underwent PK, 12 patients underwent DALK, and 19 patients underwent DMEK. The difference between the IOP preoperatively and 6 hours postoperatively and between the IOP preoperatively and 24 hours postoperatively were statistically significant in the three types of surgery (p < 0.05 for each). The difference between preoperative and postoperative week 1 IOP was statistically significant only in the PK group (p = 0.023). When the IOP was compared between the three types of surgeries, the IOP at postoperative week 1 in the PK group was significantly higher than the DALK and DMEK groups (p = 0.021). There was no correlation between ACD, corneal thickness, K values, and IOP in any group. Conclusion IOP may increase in all types of keratoplasty during the first hours after surgery, but PK has a risk of high IOP longer in the early postoperative period. PK patients should be followed more carefully during postoperative week 1 to check for an increase in IOP.