Predicting long-term graft survival after keratoplasty

Introduction: Significant progress has been made in the field of corneal transplantation over the last 15 years, and a progressively more targeted approach to the surgical treatment of the various corneal conditions is being adopted. These newer techniques promise less complications and improved outcomes. Areas covered: In this review, the authors summarize the various large randomized clinical trials and observational studies that have been performed to evaluate these procedures and identify the factors predicting the best outcomes. Expert commentary: Continued follow-up and reporting of long-term data from large prospective multi-center studies, as well as new studies evaluating and comparing the newer surgical techniques, will be invaluable in predicting and optimizing the long-term outcomes of these procedures.