Keratoplasty à chaud in severe keratitis.

We have analysed the results of 19 penetrating keratoplasties à chaud performed in 18 patients presenting with imminent perforation or perforated corneas. Infectious disease was eradicated in all cases except in those patients suffering from acanthamoeba keratitis. Secondary bacterial infection was observed in three grafts. Six eyes required a second keratoplasty; two of them were regrafted several times but finally enucleated. Six patients (32%) reached a visual acuity between 10/10 and 5/10, four patients (21%) between 5/10 and 1/10 and nine patients (47%) less than 1/10.