Thermokeratoplasty in the treatment of keratoconus.

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.