title: Precision and accuracy of an artificial anterior chamber system in obtaining corneal lenticules for lamellar keratoplasty.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the precision and accuracy of an artificial anterior chamber and a manual microkeratome in obtaining corneal lenticules for lamellar keratoplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Ophthalmology, Cornea, External Diseases and Refractive Surgery Service, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA.
  
  
  METHODS
  A lamellar keratectomy was performed in 47 human corneoscleral rims. Three lenticule thicknesses (180, 300, and 360 microm heads) and 3 diameters (7.0, 8.0, and 9.0 mm) were attempted. Diameters and thicknesses were measured by planimetry and pachymetry, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Peripheral lenticule thickness was more likely to be within +/-50 microm of the intended depth in thinner cuts (180 microm, 9/15 corneas, 60%; 300 microm, 6/16 corneas, 40%; 360 microm, 3/12 corneas, 33.3%) (P = .045). Eighty percent (32/40 corneas) were within +/-0.5 mm of the expected diameter. Accuracy was best in the 8.0 mm group, with 47.1% (8/17 corneas) within +/-0.2 mm of the expected diameter. A thickness/diameter correlation was not observed (r(s) < or = 0.28).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The precision and accuracy of this system varied according to the attempted thickness and diameter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Behrens
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Dolorico
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Kara
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Novick
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: McDonnell
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Wellik
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Chuck
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000867:Anterior Chamber; D003315:Cornea / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results