title: Femtosecond-assisted diagnostic corneal biopsy (FAB) in keratitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Femtosecond laser technology (IntraLase, Irvine, CA, USA) has been introduced in corneal surgery, opening a new frontier and providing a new surgical modality. The purpose of this study is to present a series of patients with keratitis after Femtosecond-assisted diagnostic corneal biopsies (FAB).
  
  
  METHODS
  Four patients with progressive keratitis--despite intensive broad-spectrum topical antimicrobial therapy, or progressive stromal infiltration inaccessible to corneal scrapings--underwent femtosecond-assisted diagnostic corneal biopsy. A corneal specimen was obtained using the Femtosecond laser (IntraLase), including both clinically infected and adjacent non-infected clear corneal tissue. A combination of lamellar and keratoplasty treatment parameters were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Corneal specimens of 3 mm diameter and 120 to 200 microm thickness were obtained in all patients. No intra- or early post-operative complications related to the procedure were found. In all patients, adequate specimens were submitted for cultures, smears, and permanent section staining.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this small case series of patients with undiagnosed keratitis, femtosecond-assisted diagnostic corneal biopsy (FAB) obtained adequate specimens without intra- or early post-operative complications, related to the procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Sonia H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: George D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Kymionis
authors.forename: Terrence P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ide
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Culbertson
authors.forename: Eduardo C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Alfonso
mesh_terms: D015823:Acanthamoeba Keratitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology; D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D003315:Cornea / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology*; D048988:Corneal Surgery, Laser / Q000379:methods*; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D015821:Eye Infections, Fungal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016814:Microsporidia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016881:Microsporidiosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents