Correction of postkeratoplasty astigmatism by razor blade and V-shaped knife wedge resection.
Improvement in microsurgical techniques and tissue storage has resulted in a higher rate of clear grafts after penetrating keratoplasty. The postoperative astigmatism however still remains a major problem. If a high corneal astigmatism cannot be managed successfully with glasses or contact lenses, a surgical approach may be indicated. We developed a V-shaped knife which makes a crescentic wedge resection easier to perform. Before the introduction of the V-shaped knife we obtained an average reduction in corneal astigmatism of 6.6 diopters. With the V-shaped knife the reduction was 8.0 diopters. We think that the V-shaped knife makes a wedge resection easier and safer.
D001251:Astigmatism / Q000601:surgery*; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery; D013525:Surgical Instruments / Q000592:standards*