Article
Visual acuity and development of the cylinder in deep lamellar and penetrating keratoplasty (KPL)
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Authors
Published: | September 22, 2004 |
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Outline
Text
Objective
Deep lamellar KPL can be an alternative for penetrating KPL in pathologies of corneal stroma. The best visual acuity can be limited by problems of the interface. In a retrospective study we examines the postoperative development of the visual acuity and the cylinder. Both operating methods were compared.
Methods
We operated 16 patients (mean age 48 years) with deep lamellar KPL because of different indications (corneal ulcer, burn of the eye, ceratoconus). In our comparison group 38 patients (mean age 42 years) were penetrating operated because of a ceratoconus. Visual acuity and subjective cylinder were elevated preoperative and 6 weeks, 6 months and 1 year postoperative.
Results
The mean preoperative visual acuity was 0,09 for patients which were deep lamellar operated (control group: 0,2; t-test: p = 0,003). The mean postoperative visual acuity (AC) and the cylinder (C) was after 6 weeks AC = 0,24 (0,37); C = -2,35 (-3,88), after 6 months AC = 0,38 (0,53); C = -2,57 (-2,35) and after 1 year AC = 0,41 (0,57); C = -2,75 (-2,34). The comparison between the two groups shows no significant difference.
Conclusions
Because of the good visual results after deep lamellar KPL and the postoperative not significant difference between the two methods we suggest to think of the possibillity of a deep lamellar procedure if there is an indication for KPL an an intact endothelium.