Abstract

Background: This study aimed to compare the outcomes of therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty (TPK) in patients with non-healing bacterial keratitis versus non-healing fungal keratitis.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted at Vims Ballari . A total of 60 patients were studied, equally divided between bacterial and fungal keratitis groups.

Results: TPK demonstrated a significant reduction in symptoms for both groups. The bacterial keratitis group showed a quicker mean recovery time of 20.5 days (±5.3; p<0.05) compared to 30.4 days (±6.7) in the fungal group. Postoperative graft clarity at six months was 85% in bacterial keratitis and 70% in fungal keratitis (p<0.05). Complications, including graft rejection, were higher in the fungal group at 15% compared to 7% in the bacterial group.

Conclusion: While TPK is effective for both bacterial and fungal non-healing keratitis, bacterial keratitis patients exhibited faster recovery and better postoperative graft.