Laser-assisted penetrating keratoplasty: 1-year results in patients using a laser-welded anvil-profiled graft.

PURPOSE: To describe a new laser-assisted penetrating keratoplasty technique combining a femtosecond anvil-like trephination pattern with the laser welding procedure.

DESIGN

Cohort prospective study with 1 year of follow-up (June 2011 through January 2013).

METHODS

This study was performed at Misericordia e Dolce Public Hospital, Prato, Italy. Twenty-four eyes of 22 patients underwent penetrating keratoplasty: 4 had granular dystrophy, 12 had keratoconus in its final stages, 3 had post-herpetic leukoma, and 5 had corneal scars. A femtosecond laser was used to create anvil-profiled cuts in donor and recipient corneas. Diode laser welding was performed, supporting standard suturing. All patients were evaluated for corrected distance visual acuity, pachymetry, manifest astigmatism, and endothelial cell density after 1, 3, 6, and 12 months.

RESULTS

Mean ± standard deviation postoperative corrected visual acuity was 0.48 ± 0.23 logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (logMAR), 0.30 ± 0.18 logMAR, 0.18 ± 0.13 logMAR, and 0.13 ± 0.16 logMAR at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. At the same follow-up times, mean pachymetry was 537 ± 57 μm, 533 ± 74 μm, 528 ± 72 μm, and 529 ± 58 μm, respectively; and mean endothelial cell density was 1945 ± 371 cells/mm(2), 1881 ± 410 cells/mm(2), 1781 ± 401 cells/mm(2), and 1730 ± 376 cells/mm(2), respectively. Mean manifest and topographic postoperative astigmatism were: 3.6 ± 2.5 diopters (D) and 4.65 ± 2.57 D at 1 month, 2.93 ± 2.34 D and 4.79 ± 2.85 D at 3 months, 2.82 ± 1.75 D and 3.44 ± 2.28 D at 6 months, and 2.08 ± 1.25 D and 2.73 ± 2.01 D at 12 months, respectively. All surgical operations were successful and without intraoperative complications.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of the anvil trephination profile was effective for performing laser-assisted penetrating keratoplasty. The large donor-recipient interface enables the laser welding procedure and good preservation of the recipient's endothelial cell pool.