Recovery of corneal sensitivity in grafts following penetrating keratoplasty.

Corneal sensitivity was tested in 145 cases of clear corneal transplants using Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometer. The central area of corneal transplants was found to be either completely anesthetic or markedly hypesthetic even 32 years following corneal transplantation, as exemplified in a patient who had surgery for keratoconus. Age, preoperative diagnosis, contact lens wear, diabetes, or length of postoperative period had no correlation with sensitivity in corneal grafts. In cases with a preoperative diagnosis of failed graft, even the peripheral recipient cornea was found to be relatively hypesthetic. The observations from this study that the central area of corneal graft never recovers normal sensitivity may have significant implications on the epithelial cell integrity of corneal grafts.