Retinal detachment following penetrating keratoplasty.

The time-related risk of retinal detachment during the follow-up of 1146 penetrating keratoplasty procedures was evaluated, using survival analysis techniques. Twenty-eight retinal detachments were observed during follow-up. The Kaplan-Meier estimate of the risk of developing retinal detachment increased from 1.5% at three months to 2.1% at one year after surgery. Further follow-up showed a gradual increase in the cumulative proportion developing retinal detachment to 4.7% at 3.5 years after surgery. Of the preoperative and intraoperative factors available for study, performing an anterior vitrectomy during penetrating keratoplasty was associated with a greater risk of postoperative retinal detachment. The outcome of visual acuity following retinal detachment in these patients' eyes was poor; five patients could not perceive light with the affected eye, and 82% (23/28) had visual acuity of 20/200 or less.