ABSTRACT
Corneal transplantation is an effective mode of therapy for visual rehabilitation of people blind from corneal diseases. Infectious keratitis after penetrating keratoplasty can be devastating to the survival of the graft and consequently, affect the final visual outcome. The precipitating factors for development of infection after any corneal transplant include compromised ocular surface, persistent epithelial defect, suture-related problems, use of bandage contact lenses, trichiasis, dry eye and lid abnormalities along with systemic immunocompromised state. Corneal graft rejection, another important cause of graft failure, refers to a specific immunological response of the host to the donor corneal transplant tissue, demonstrating findings like keratic precipitates with or without corneal oedema and anterior chamber cell and flare after the initial resolution of perioperative inflammation. The incidence of graft rejection is greatest in the first year-and-a-half following transplant but can occur up to 20 years or more after surgery.
