AIM: To investigate the clinical effects on the deep lamellar keratoplasty for herpes simplex keratitis.

METHODS: Deep lamellar keratoplasty was performed on 105 cases with herpes simplex viral keratitis. All of these patients were followed-up for 12-36mo, the corneal graft transparency, visual acuity and viral keratitis recurrence were observed.

RESULTS:Among 24 patients after stripping the corneal stroma which was close to the Descemet's membrane, Central area of 81 cases were about 6mm×6mm of to Descemet's membrane. One hundred and one cases of planting beds were transparent. Visual acuity were improved in varying degrees, best corrected visual acuity was greater than 0.5 in 67 cases, 0.3-0.5 in 35 cases, less than 0.3 in 3 cases. There was no recurrence of viral keratitis and rejection cases during the observation period.

CONCLUSION: Deep lamellar keratoplasty is an effective technique in the treatment of viral keratitis. It is therefore should be an early surgical treatment for frequent episodes of viral keratitis cases.