Epithelial response in penetrating keratoplasty.

In 30 patients who were followed up, discrete corneal epithelial dots developed in a strictly confined area of the peripheral donor cornea within two months after penetrating keratoplasty. The incidence was higher, although not statistically significant, in the disparate group (55%) as compared to the isometric group (30%). The change in dot density that occurs after nylon suture removal is consistent with the idea of lateral cell movement in the corneal epithelium. This study confirms that donor epithelium persists for long periods of time.