Thermokeratoplasty for keratoconus.

Nine patients with severe keratoconus who were ready for penetrating keratoplasty underwent thermokeratoplasty with profound flattening of the cornea at the time of surgery. Keratometer readings returned to pretreatment levels in seven of the nine patients. Two patients have avoided penetrating keratoplasty due to improved contact lens fit following thermokeratoplasty despite the return of corneal steepness. Subsequent penetrating keratoplasty in five patients has been uneventful with all grafts remaining clear to date four to eight months postoperatively.