Intraoperative videokeratography in penetrating keratoplasty and excimer laser-assisted lamellar keratoplasty for keratoconus.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of intraoperative computerized corneal topographic data in excimer laser-assisted lamellar keratoplasty (ELLK) and penetrating keratoplasty (PK).

METHODS

Prospective, comparative, interventional case series. Intra- and postoperative videokeratography (Keratron Scout) evaluation was performed on 30 eyes of 30 consecutive patients affected by keratoconus (16 men and 14 women; mean age 32.63±8.02 years) submitted to ELLK (15 eyes) using 16 interrupted 10-0 nylon stitches or to PK (15 eyes) using a 12-bite 10-0 nylon double-running continuous suture.

RESULTS

In the ELLK group, the mean intraoperative keratometric astigmatism was 12.06±4.86 diopters (D), which changed to 5.19±2.51 D after topography-guided intraoperative suture adjustment. In the PK group, intraoperative keratometric astigmatism was 10.18±3.88 D, which changed to 3.49±0.41 D. After 24 months (sutures out), the mean videokeratographic keratometric astigmatism was 3.35±1.96 D in the ELLK group and 3.37±0.92 D in the PK group. The Alpins method of vector analysis showed some significant changes especially in the ELLK group.

CONCLUSIONS

In keratoplasty surgery, videokeratography is useful for suture adjustment. In the PK group, using a double-running suture technique, the postoperative astigmatism (after all sutures were removed) was similar to the astigmatism measured intraoperatively by videokeratography.