PURPOSE: To describe the epidemiological profile of patients waiting for penetrating keratoplasty in state of Pará, Brazil. METHODS: Transversal and retrospective study, with 1261 patients, in the period of january 2001 until to december 2009, were registered on the waiting list for corneal transplantation in the Central Notification, Captation and Distribution of Organs (CNCDO) of Pará. Registration forms of cornea receiving were used, adapted to the purposes of this research. RESULTS: In relation to frequency, it was obtained 51% male; 33.9% aged 61 to 80 years; 18.6% enrolled in CNPDO in 2009; 61% with the right eye affected; 56% remained active in the list; 51.7% that waited 1 to 3 years the transplant and; 85 transplants performed in 2009. The main indications for corneal transplantation were bullous keratopathy (28.2%), scarring (22%) and corneal ulcer (14.8%). CONCLUSION: There was no difference between the frequency of the sexes, the majority were aged 61 to 80 years, entered into the CNPDO in the year 2009 (the year it was held the largest number of transplants), with the right eye was affected, and who remained active in the waiting list. Among the transplanted patients, it was certified that the time in the waiting list for corneal transplantation was long and inappropriate. Furthermore, the main indications for corneal transplantation in state of Pará were bullous keratopathy, scarring and corneal ulcer.
Corneal transplantation; Keratoplasty penetrating; Corneal diseases; Brazil
