Corneal transplants and clinical and epidemiological profiles: a descriptive and analytical study

Objective: To determine the distribution and clinical and epidemiological characterization of the patients on the waiting list for corneal transplants and of the patients transplanted with corneal tissue according to the time, place, and characteristics of the individuals. Method: This is a quantitative epidemiological, cross- sectional, descriptive, and analytical study of quantitative approach, which will include all the patients on the waiting list and the patients transplanted with corneal tissue in a reference service in the period from 2010 to 2014. The data were collected in its entirety and two databases generated, which will be compiled and submitted to a statistical analysis using association measures (%2) and significant difference (Student's t-test and ANOVA). Guiding question: How do the distribution and clinical and epidemiological characterization of the corneal transplants performed in a reference service and the patients on waiting list occur according to the time, place, and characteristics of the individuals in the state of Rio Grande do Norte? Keywords: Corneal transplantation; Free tissue flaps; Corneal diseases; Epidemiology.