Epikeratophakia: technique modifications and visual results compared to the national study.

Twenty-eight epikeratophakia procedures have been performed at the University of Minnesota since December 1985. This report describes several technique modifications and compares the refractive and visual outcome of these cases with the national results. There have been 17 aphakic cases (13 adult and four pediatric), seven myopic procedures, and four keratoconus cases. Of the adult aphakic cases, 80% were within 3 diopters of emmetropia at six months, with four cases showing an undercorrection. In the myopic group, five cases showed an overcorrection at six months and all patients were within two Snellen lines or better than their preoperative best corrected vision. The major complications included one graft removal for failure to epithelialize, an interface hematoma, and a severe overcorrection to +9.37 diopters in a myopic patient. A no-keratectomy technique was used in the aphakic and myopic groups. A variation on centering the Hessburg-Barron trephine and removing the epithelium was performed and allowed for more accurate trephine placement.