title: Evaluation of sources of variation on the accuracy and reproducibility of microkeratome sections with the modified artificial anterior chamber.
abstract: A study was carried out to evaluate effects of various sources of variation on the accuracy and reproducibility of the modified artificial chamber in obtaining lamellar sections from rabbit cornea. Sources of variation included a) measurement error, inter-cornea and inter-session variation, b) length of storage time M-K medium, and c) choice of preselected values of thickness and diameter. The findings indicated tha a) measurement error, inter-cornea, and inter-session variations were of nominal magnitude; b) the length of storage time up to 10 days did not effect the precision of the procedure; c) the precision of diameter determinations did not depend on the preselected value of the diameter; d) the precision of thickness determinations did depend on preselected parameter values; and e) parameter values tended to be underestimated. Regression equations therefore are provided to adjust for the underestimation of thickness and diameter. Based on these findings, it was concluded that the modified artificial anterior chamber is adequate for use in experimental refractive keratoplasty since it provides adequate diamter values and is reproducible.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000867:Anterior Chamber; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D011817:Rabbits; D014021:Tissue Preservation; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods