Lamellar Keratectomy Using an Automated Microkeratome

Abstract

Lamellar keratectomy with the use of an automated microkeratome is a safe and effective method for removing superficial anterior corneal opacities. For selected cases, it offers specific advantages over other surgical modalities. In particular, this procedure may induce far less hyperopic shift than would the equivalent amount of tissue removal by performing excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy.

Treatment of Corneal Opacity by Planned Lamellar Keratectomy Using the Femtosecond Laser

“…Also, PTK using excimer lasers can induce hyperopic shift. 2,6 In the patient described here, preoperative manifest refraction measurement showed anisometropia. The manifest refraction of the right eye was more myopic than that of the left.…”

“…1 To remove corneal opacity, surgical treatment options include lamellar keratectomy using a microkeratome or phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) to improve visual acuity. [1][2][3][4] In the present case report, we introduce another surgical treatment option, lamellar keratectomy using a femtosecond (FS) laser (IntraLase; AMO, Irvine, CA), and report on the results achieved after treatment of superficial corneal opacity. The FS laser offers many advantages, including the ability to adjust the flap depth and flap diameter during lamellar keratectomy or keratotomy.…”

Technology needs for corneal transplant surgery

“…This led to numerous undesirable complications like graft host mismatch, irregular astigmatism and interface scarring limiting the bestcorrected visual acuity 18 . Some of these issues were addressed by the use of automated microkeratomes for the lamellar dissection to achieve a smoother interface and minimize scarring 19,20 . Microkeratome assisted anterior lamellar keratoplasty showed promising results (Figure 12) but there were still issues with mismatch of the size of the donor and recipient.…”