BACKGROUND The topography of corneas after penetrating keratoplasty is highly variable. We classify the topography into five groups. METHODS We performed videokeratography on 45 clear compact penetrating keratoplasties, with all sutures removed. Three ophthalmologists classified the keratographs independently into five previously defined topographic groups, based on the pattern of the normalized color-coded videokeratograph. RESULTS The five topographic patterns included: prolate bow tie, 14 (30%); oblate bow tie, 14 (30%); mixed prolate and oblate bow tie, 8 (17%); asymmetric, 3 (9%); and steep/flat, 6 (14%). The three ophthalmologists agreed in their initial classification in 87% of the cases and after discussion, in 96%. CONCLUSIONS The topography of the cornea after penetrating keratoplasty can be classified into five qualitative groups by trained observers, with good clinical reliability.