Iowa PK Press for donor corneas--a comparative study of donor corneal shape.
BACKGROUND
A new cornea press for cutting donor corneal buttons from the endothelial side, the Iowa PK Press, is described. Major modifications of the Bourne Press include a spring-activated piston without lateral sway, a centering device for a Teflon cutting pad, and the ability to accommodate a wider range of trephine sizes (6.2 mm to 10.0 mm).


METHODS
The Iowa PK Press was compared with the Bourne Corneal Press and trephination by hand in a series of 15 donor cornea trephinations. Measurements taken from photographs of the buttons included endothelial diameter, epithelial diameter, and edge angles.


RESULTS
The Iowa PK press cut buttons that had a slightly larger epithelial and endothelial diameter when compared to hand trephination (p < .05, analysis of variance) with less undercutting of the endothelial surface. There was no statistically significant difference in epithelial and endothelial diameters, eccentricity, or edge angles between the two presses.


CONCLUSIONS
The Iowa PK Press is more versatile than the Bourne Press in terms of the potential range of diameter of corneal buttons that can be created.
Vrabec
M P
MP
Department of Surgery (Ophthalmology), University of Vermont College of Medicine.
Krachmer
J H
JH
Florakis
G J
GJ
D048429:Cell Size; D003315:Cornea / Q000166:cytology* / Q000601:surgery; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology / Q000601:surgery; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000601:surgery; D004867:Equipment Design; D007484:Iowa; D010781:Photography; D014019:Tissue Donors