Thermokeratoplasty in the treatment of keratoconus

Abstract

Of 59 keratoconus eyes treated with the thermokeratoplasty procedure and followed for as long as two years visual acuity improved to better than 20/30 in most. Despite the varied procedures, temperatures, sites and duration of application, sizes and shapes of the probe, as well as follow-up periods, the results were satisfactory and compared favorably with the results of penetrating keratoplasty. Thermokeratoplasty did not preclude later penetrating keratoplasty. The disadvantages of the thermokeratoplasty procedure were: (1) a transitory corneal haziness; (2) production of corneal scarring if not properly done; and (3) the fact that further studies are necessary for better standardization of the technique. Despite these disadvantages, less than 5% of the patients who underwent thermokeratoplasty required further penetrating keratoplasty.