[Penetrating keratoplasty indications in "Hospital das Clínicas-UNICAMP"].

PURPOSE To determine the main causes of penetrating keratoplasty indications at "Hospital das Clínicas-UNICAMP" (January, 1999 to December, 2003). METHODS A non-comparative, retrospective series of case studies. The authors reviewed the files of 857 patients who underwent penetrating keratoplasty at "Hospital das Clínicas-UNICAMP" between 1999-2003 and classified them into different categories according to diagnostic indication for surgery. RESULTS The age range was between 0-88 years (average 44 years +/-1.2). The main causes of penetrating keratoplasty were: keratoconus in 427 cases (49.82%); 152 cases (17.74%) of corneal ulceration (perforated or not); corneal graft failure in 87 cases (10.15%); bullous keratopathy, 72 cases (8.40%); Fuchs dystrophy in 59 cases (6.88%); trachoma complications in 28 cases (3.27%); other causes, 32 (3.74%). In children under 10 years of age, the main cause of penetrating keratoplasty indications was infectious ulcer (77.78%) and between 11-50 years of age, keratoconus was the main cause (71.65%). CONCLUSION This study was composed of a young population, and the main causes of penetrating keratoplasty were keratoconus and therapeutic keratoplasty.