Corneal graft reinnervation was studied in 45 patients. The reinnervation was correlated to donodrecipient compatibility (HLA and ABO). The sensitivity tended to be normal about 12 months after transplantation.Previous studies on corneal graft reinnervation have shown that sensitivity appears gradually after about 6 weeks (Broberg-Ans 1952). Sensitivity never becomes fully normal, irrespective of the fate of the graft.In recent years the technique of operation has been considerably refined, a fact that might influence the reinnervation. W e therefore decided to reinvestigate the sensitivity of corneal grafts.
Materials and MethodsThis study comprises 45 patients subjected to corneal transplantation (45 penetrating grafts).The series comprised 12 cases of keratoconus, 9 cases of herpetic keratitis, 7 cases of non-herpetic keratitis, 10 cases of dystrophy, and 7 cases of traumatic lesions. The material comprises 23 males and 22 females with an age range between 20 and 79 years and an average age of 45 years.The operation technique and postoperative care has been reported elsewhere (Ehlers 1977). HLA-and ABO-compatibility between donor and recipient was determined for all the 45 penetrating transplantations. Corneal sensitivity was measured with the aesthesiometer of Cochet-Bonnet. A nylon filament of thickness 0.12 mm was applied.The sensitivity was considered normal, when the pressure of a filament 2 50 mm could