Long-Term Outcomes of Femtosecond Laser–Assisted Mushroom Configuration Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty

Purpose: To assess the outcomes of implanting a new polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) ring (Neoring; AJL Ophthalmic) in pre-descemet deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (PD-DALK) procedure for moderate-advanced keratoconus.Methods: This prospective study included 10 eyes of 10 patients with moderate-advanced keratoconus who underwent PD-DALK with Neoring implantation. Neoring was implanted in a pre-descemetic pocket. The post-operative examination included refraction, corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), corneal tomography, and endothelial cell density (ECD). The root mean squares (RMSs) for coma-like aberrations and spherical aberration were evaluated for a pupil size of 4.5 mm. The junctional graft (Tg) and host (Th) thicknesses were measured. The post-operative follow-up was 24 months.Results: Post-operative CDVA was 0.82 ± 0.14 (decimal scale), 100% of the eyes achieved a CDVA of 0.7 (decimal scale). The refractive cylinder was −2.86 ± 1.65 2-years after surgery. No eyes had a post-operative refractive cylinder ≥5.00 D and in five eyes (50%), it was ≤2.50 D. At the last visit, the mean keratometry was 45.64 ± 1.96 D, the RMS for coma-like aberrations was 0.30 ± 0.15 μm and spherical aberration was 0.22 ± 0.09. The mean ECD remains without changes over the follow-up (P = 0.07). At the last visit, Tg and Th were 679.9 ± 39.0 and 634.8 ± 41.2 μm, respectively. The thickness of the complex (host-Neoring) was 740.6 ± 35.6 μm. In all cases, this thickness was thicker than Tg.Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that PD-DALK along Neoring implantation is a viable, effective, and safe option to optimize the post-operative results for moderate-severe keratoconus.

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Femtosecond laser-assisted deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty: A safer option in keratoconus surgery

European Journal of Ophthalmology ◽

10.1177/11206721211059023 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 112067212110590

Author(s):

Cristina Monterosso ◽

Marco Antonini ◽

Antonio Di Zazzo ◽

Daniele Gaudenzi ◽

Luigi Caretti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Visual Acuity ◽

Femtosecond Laser ◽

Lamellar Keratoplasty ◽

Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty ◽

Persistent Epithelial Defect ◽

Corrected Visual Acuity ◽

Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty ◽

Best Corrected Visual Acuity ◽

Persistent Epithelial Defects

Purpose To evaluate postoperative safety of femtosecond laser deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty performed with an innovative anvil profile in keratoconus patients. Methods This is a single-center, retrospective cohort study. We reviewed medical records of 89 keratoconus patients that underwent femtosecond laser deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty surgery (46 eyes) and manual deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (47 eyes). Inclusion criteria required: age > 18 years old, best-corrected visual acuity < 0.3 LogMAR, continuous suture of the graft, postoperative immunomodulant regimen with dexamethasone 0.1% for 6 months and at least 12 months follow-up. Previous eye surgery, hydrops, and other ocular disease were excluded. The main outcome measures were postoperative events: rejections, persistent epithelial defects, and graft failures. Results During the follow-up (20 ± 6 months) graft rejection was diagnosed in 0 of femtosecond laser deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty versus 6 (17%) of manual deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty [ p 0.027], persistent epithelial defect in 0 of femtosecond laser deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty versus in 4 (11%) of manual deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty [ p 0.048] and graft failure occurred in 4 (11%) of manual deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty. The best-corrected visual acuity, after removal of sutures, was better in the femtosecond laser deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty group 0.09 ± 0.08 LogMAR versus 0.16 ± 0.13 LogMAR in manual deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty [ p 0.035] group although refractive spherical equivalent and cylinder, topographic average keratometry and cylinder were similar. Conclusions Anvil-shaped femtosecond laser deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty in keratoconus surgery increases safety and readiness of recovery, decreasing the incidence of corneal rejection, epithelial defects, graft failures, and producing better best-corrected visual acuity after removal of sutures.

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