[Ipsilateral rotational autokeratoplasty with 0.5 mm resection of inferior corneal crescent, in keratoconus].
OBJECTIVE
To report the visual outcomes in keratoconus after ipsilateral rotating penetrating autokeratoplasty technique (IRPAK) associated with resection of 0.5 mm of inferior corneal crescent.


METHODS
According to a prospective, longitudinal, series of cases, the authors analyzed visual results of six patients with keratoconus, who underwent an IRPAK, by two trepanations superiorly coincident and with a difference of 0.5 mm inferiorly. After resection of this corneal crescent, a 180 masculine rotation of the corneal disc was performed, which was fixed with 24 sutures diametrically opposed. The patients were followed-up for a mean period of 12.6 months.


RESULTS
Comparing the data of first postoperative year to those of the preoperative, there were significant improvements in the medians of: far visual acuity (p=0.04) and maximum keratometric value (p=0.04). For the refractive spherical equivalent (p=0.25) and topographic astigmatism (p=0.67), the improvement was not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
IRPAK associated with resection of 0.5 mm of inferior corneal crescent, after the first postoperative year, was effective in improving visual acuity and topographic maximum keratometric value. This technique has the advantages of eliminating the difficulties of obtaining donor corneal tissue and to avoid graft rejection.
Cunha
Fernando José Melo da
FJ
Departamento de Cúrnea e Doenças Externas, Fundação Altino Ventura, Recife, PE, Brasil. fernandojmcunha@uol.com.br
Cavalcanti
Márcia Trovão Duarte
MT
Escarião
Ana Cecília de Souza Leão
AC
Arraes
Tatiana Azevedo
TA
Lira
Wagner
W
Cavalcanti
Ronald
R
D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating / Q000379:methods*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology