Factors associated with glaucoma after penetrating keratoplasty.

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 80 eyes that underwent penetrating keratoplasties to determine the factors associated with early (less than three months) and late (more than three months) postoperative increases in intraocular pressure. The patients ranged in age from 14 to 91 years (mean age, 58.5 years). The 56 patients with aphakic eyes had a mean age of 64 years and the 24 patients whose eyes had lenses had a mean age of 48 years. In the 17 eyes with preoperative glaucoma, the intraocular pressure was controlled with medication (mean intraocular pressure, 17.6 mm Hg; range, 10 to 21 mm Hg). The follow-up periods ranged from 12 to 26 months (mean, 22 months). Of the 80 eyes, 25 had early increases in intraocular pressure and 23 had late increases. Twenty eyes showed increases during both periods. Of the 17 eyes with preoperative glaucoma, 14 had early increases and 15 had late increases (P less than .001). Of the 57 aphakic eyes, 24 had early increases (P less than .001) and 21 had late increases (P less than .025). Other factors (whether vitrectomy was done, suture technique, and graft size) were not statistically significant.