Thermokeratoplasty in the treatment of persistent corneal hydrops.

Thermokeratoplasty (TKP) was used to treat six cases of chronic corneal hydrops previously refractory to traditional therapy. In all instances TKP resulted in a clearing of the hydrops within three weeks. In four cases the resultnat comfort and clarity precluded the necessity for transplantation, while in the remaining two cases subsequent penetrating keratoplasty was successfully performed. Thermokeratoplasty is advocated in chronic hydrops refractive to standard therapy, in acute hydrops to accelerate recovery, in recurrent hydrops to assist in healing of breaks in Descemet membrane, thus preventing recurrences, in cases with extensive hydrops to deturgesce the peripheral cornea prior to transplantation, and as definitive therapy in cases where transplantation is contraindicated.