title: Orientation teeth in nonmechanical femtosecond laser corneal trephination for penetrating keratoplasty.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate femtosecond laser-assisted corneal full-thickness trephination with orientation teeth and notches for penetrating keratoplasty (PKP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Interventional case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four eyes of four patients aged 34 to 55 years underwent PKP using a femtosecond laser system enabling corneal trephination with orientation teeth and notches. Patients were affected by advanced keratoconus (n = 2) or postinfectious corneal scar (n = 2). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed to evaluate the cut quality of donor and recipient cornea.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All procedures were completed without any complications. In all cases, the donor and the recipient cornea were cut with the same size of 8.0-mm diameter. A complete perforating cut was achieved in all eyes, and a correct intraoperative matching of teeth and notches was obtained. SEM of donor and recipient specimens showed a full-thickness cut with smooth and regular shape of orientation teeth and notches.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Orientation teeth and notches shaped PKP using the femtosecond laser technology is feasible and may offer further promising approaches toward customized trephination techniques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Aging Science Ophthalmic Clinic, University of Chieti-Pescara, Via Vallepato, 8 Torrevecchia T., Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mastropasqua
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nubile
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lanzini
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Calienno
authors.forename: Oriana
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Trubiani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003315:Cornea / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating / Q000379:methods*; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008875:Middle Aged; D014019:Tissue Donors