A portable microkeratome-based anterior corneal surface harvesting device.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the reproducibility of anterior sclerokeratectomy using a portable nonelectric microkeratome-based device capable of harvesting the entire anterior corneal surface for lamellar transplantation.


METHODS
A modified gas turbine-driven microkeratome (LSK One, Moria/Microtech, Doylestown, PA) with a redesigned head large enough to incorporate the whole human anterior corneal surface in a pass and was coupled to a manual vacuum pump. This instrument was tested on 25 fresh porcine globes divided into 2 groups (170-microm and 200-microm head). To assess cut reproducibility the physical dimensions (diameter and thickness) of the obtained lenticules were measured.


RESULTS
The obtained lenticules were fairly circular (horizontal versus vertical diameters, p >0.2), with average diameters of 12.85 +/- 0.52 mm and 13.25 +/- 1.15 mm for the 170 and 200-microm heads, respectively. The average central lenticule thickness was 176.92 +/- 34.68 microm and 166.00 +/- 53.74 microm for the 170 and 200-microm heads, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
This new system presents an economical and portable alternative to electric-powered systems. In addition to being used by surgeons in the operating room, eye bank technicians in the field could theoretically use this system; including in developing countries where cost, availability of electricity, and portability are issues.
Department of Ophthalmology, University of California-Irvine, 118 Med Surge I, Irvine, CA 92697-4375, U.S.A.
Melvin A
MA
Sarayba
Li
L
Li
Paula M
PM
Sweet
Roy S
RS
Chuck
D000818:Animals; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013552:Swine; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods*