METHODS: This retrospective study included all patients with PKP between 2006 and 2017. Patients were classified using histological diagnoses. Our groups were as the following: pseudophakic or aphakic bullous keratopathy, regraft, acute necrotizing and ulcerative keratitis, keratoconus, Fuchs¡¯ dystrophy, corneal dystrophy other than Fuchs¡¯, corneal scar, other diagnoses and failed endothelial keratoplasty graft. Additionally, two different time-periods (2006-2012 and 2013-2017) were analysed.

    RESULTS: Totally 1721 histological analyses of 1214 patients were available for review. The diagnoses were pseudophakic or aphakic bullous keratopathy in 487 (28.3%), regraft in 443 (25.7%), acute necrotizing and ulcerative keratitis in 313 (18.2%), corneal scar in 153 (8.9%), keratoconus in 140 (8.1%). Fuchs¡¯ dystrophy in 61 (3.5%), corneal dystrophy other than Fuchs¡¯ in 46 (2.7%), other diagnoses in 44 (2.6%) and failed endothelial keratoplasty graft in 34 (2.0%) cases. From the first to the second analysed time-period, incidence of acute necrotizing and ulcerative keratitis, corneal scar, Fuchs¡¯ dystrophy increased (P¡Ü0.032 for all) and incidence of keratoconus significantly decreased (P=0.015).

    CONCLUSION: Pseudophakic or aphakic bullous keratopathy is the leading indication for PKP, followed by regraft and acute necrotizing and ulcerative keratitis.