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Non-mechanical, "non-thermal" trephination with elliptical and circular metal masks with orientation teeth represents a viable alternative to knife trephination in penetrating keratoplasty. No unexpected complications such as disturbances of wound healing were seen. Further studies are needed to determine the effect on residual long-term astigmatism after suture removal.

Serum PTH levels at postoperative 12 and 24 h can predict early post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia. Prophylactic oral calcium supplementation therapy can prevent early post-thyroidectomy hypocalcemia with advantages of being cost effective and safe.

The automated method for analysing corneal endothelium quickly provides reproducible and valid results using the correction mode of the software. Semiquantitative analysis of qualitative parameters permits a more differentiated assessment of keratopathy in pseudoexfoliation syndrome than does mere consideration of endothelial cell density. Both evaluations are recommended to assess the risk of a diffuse endothelial decompensation before intraocular surgery.

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During the first two years after nonmechanical trephination in PK, a non-significant decrease in endothelial cell density was observed. The exponential regression model seems to be predestinated for analysis of the time course of corneal endothelium in a longitudinal manner. The annual cell loss ranged around 9.5% without significant differences between diagnoses and storage methods.

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Background/aims-"Orientation teeth" at the donor trephination margin and correspondent "notches" at the host margin facilitate graft orientation and avoid "horizontal torsion" induced by asymmetric suture placement. In this study the quality and reproducibility of these structures created by non-mechanical laser corneal trephination were compared using two laser emissions. . Overall, variability of notches was higher than that of teeth. By SEM, comparable cut regularity and sustained ablation profile were observed with both lasers. However, the corneal surface at the cut edge appeared slightly elevated (<35 µm) in the Er:YAG group. Methods-The Conclusion-Orientationteeth/notches resembling those obtained with the excimer laser can be created using the Q switched Er:YAG laser, with potential advantages of lower costs, convenient equipment size, and solid state safety. (Br J Ophthalmol 1999;83:1008-1012 Excimer lasers are now successfully used as non-mechanical corneal trephines, with the advantages of reducing the "vertical tilt" commonly observed using conventional trephines, and the possibility of creating "orientation teeth" and "notches" at the cut edge.