title: Corneoscleral freehand lamellar keratoplasty in Terrien's marginal degeneration of the cornea--long-term results.
abstract: Freehand corneoscleral lamellar grafts were used in the treatment of advanced Terrien's marginal degeneration of the cornea in four eyes of three patients followed over a period of 12 to 20 years. Anatomic reconstruction of the ectatic thinned peripheral cornea was achieved and irregular astigmatism eliminated in all four eyes. Corneal astigmatism secondary to the corneal ectasia was reduced by 4.00 to 9.00 diopters. The progressive increase in against-the-rule astigmatism associated with advancing Terrien's was arrested for up to 20 years. Gradual thinning of the lamellar graft was noted in all four eyes after 10 years, but the return of corneal ectasia and increasing astigmatism has not occurred.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Jules Stein Eye Institute, Los Angeles, CA 90024-7003.
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Pettit
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000601:surgery; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012590:Sclera / Q000637:transplantation*; D014792:Visual Acuity