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  • Title: The regularity of laser keratectomy depth in nonmechanical trephination for penetrating keratoplasty.
    Author: Seitz B, Langenbucher A, Fischer S, Kus MM, Vilchis E, Naumann GO.
    Journal: Ophthalmic Surg Lasers; 1998 Jan; 29(1):33-42. PubMed ID: 9474598.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To study the regularity of laser keratectomy depth in nonmechanical trephination for penetrating keratoplasty (PK) and to assess its implications on astigmatism and visual acuity (VA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this retrospective clinicopathologic study, the authors enrolled 26 women and 32 men (mean age 54 +/- 20 years) with either keratoconus (n = 27) or Fuchs' dystrophy (n = 31), who underwent excimer laser (193 nm) trephination using a manually guided beam. Donor cornea trephination was performed using an artificial anterior chamber and either an automated rotation device (n = 27) or a manually guided beam (n = 31). The minimum residual corneal thickness (MRCT) and the random residual corneal thickness (RRCT), requiring division with scissors in excised patient buttons or corneoscleral donor rims, were assessed in a masked fashion using histologic sections. The postkeratoplasty keratometric net astigmatism, the subjective cylinder, and the VA were evaluated before and after suture removal. RESULTS: In patients with keratoconus, the mean MRCT (13% +/- 14%) and RRCT (38% +/- 20%) were significantly higher than in the patients with Fuchs' dystrophy (7% +/- 11% and 26% +/- 15%, respectively) (P < .01). When an automated rotation device for trephination of the donor cornea was used, the mean MRCT (2% +/- 4%) and RRCT (14% +/- 11%) were significantly smaller than when a manually guided laser beam was employed (15% +/- 12% and 38% +/- 15%, respectively) (P < .001). After suture removal, the VA increased significantly with automated trephination (P = .04), but not with manually guided trephination of the donor cornea (P = .24). However, after a mean follow-up of 30 +/- 8 months, the differences in the mean keratometric astigmatism, refractive cylinder, and VA after automated trephination (3.0 D, 2.6 D, 20/29, respectively) compared with those after manually guided trephination of the donor cornea (4.3 D, 3.9 D, 20/33, respectively) did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: The regularity of donor trephination depth can be significantly improved by using an automated rotation device instead of a manually guided beam. Although residual postkeratoplasty astigmatism was not directly related to trephination depth, the improvement of the functional results after suture removal seems to be promoted by automated trephination.
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