Surgical treatment of corneal pathology in patients with Down's syndrome

Abstract

Keratoconus is a major cause of blindness in patients with Down's syndrome. A retrospective study of 30 corneal grafts for keratoconus in these patients revealed a 5-year graft survival of 67%. Postoperative trauma and/or infection was the main cause for graft failure. Conditions that should be met before the indication for corneal transplantation in a patient with Down's syndrome are formulated as a result of 15 years experience with that patient population. In appropriate cases, corneal transplantation may undoubtedly improve the quality of life in these patients.