Corneal Transplant: Difficulties And Therapeutic Challenge: Experience F Marrakech Over 10 Years

This is a retrospective study of 289 cases having a keratoplasty in the ophthalmology department of the university hospital Mohamed VI  over a period of 10 years from October 2011 to October 2021. Among those 289 grafts, 56 grafts were taken locally, the others were imported. 

289 eyes of 123 women and 166 men were studied. 94 of the transplanted patients had keratoconus.38 candidates received treatment for corneal neovascularization preoperatively. We performed 262 perforating keratoplasties, 17 deep anterior lamellar keratoplasties and 10 plug grafts. The best corrected visual acuity before the transplant was less than 1 logMar in 90% of the patients while 60% had a corrected visual acuity greater than 0.3 logMAR postoperatively. 252 patients were corrected with glasses; 28 by rigid lens and 9 did not require correction. In our series, 28 patients presented transplant rejection. the main reasons for refusing the donation were: relgion beliefs (63%), and wishing to preserve the integrity of their bodies (33%).

The corneal transplant in Morocco has many constraints, the shortage of donation is the main challenge that hinders the launch of this project. Despite the state efforts made to promote the project.