title: A portable microkeratome for harvesting the human anterior corneal surface.
abstract: A portable, gas-driven turbine microkeratome device capable of harvesting the entire anterior corneal surface for lamellar transplantation on human donor globes was evaluated. The device consisted of a modified LASIK microkeratome with an enlarged suction ring, head, and blade. Vacuum was achieved by a simple hand pump. Lamellar keratectomy was performed on 5 fresh human donor globes. Lenticule dimensions were measured on days 0, 3, 6, and 9 after storage in preservation media at 4 degrees C. On day 0, the obtained lenticules were 13.9 +/- 0.9 mm and 13.5 +/- 0.4 mm, vertical and horizontal diameters, respectively. The average central lenticule thickness was 152.2 +/- 52 microm. Each lenticule was uniform in thickness over 5 measurement points (P = 0.74). Repeat measurements of corneal thickness over the 9 days showed no statistically significant difference (P = 0.51). On day 9 lenticules were 14.6 +/- 0.3 mm and 14.6 +/- 0.4 mm, vertical and horizontal diameters, respectively. When day 0 was compared to day 9, vertical diameter also showed no statistically significant difference (P = 0.16), whereas horizontal diameter was significantly different (P < 0.001). This device proves to be an economical alternative to electric-powered systems for the harvest of transplantable corneal sections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, Irvine, 92697, USA.
authors.forename: Melvin A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sarayba
authors.forename: Tulaya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tungsiripat
authors.forename: Paula M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Sweet
authors.forename: Roy S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Chuck
mesh_terms: D003315:Cornea; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000295:instrumentation; D014019:Tissue Donors; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods*; D014618:Vacuum