Femtosecond laser-assisted keratoplasty: laboratory studies in eye bank eyes.
OBJECTIVE
To optimize the surgical technique for performing femtosecond laser-assisted keratoplasty (FLAK) using the IntraLase FS to cut both recipient and donor cornea buttons in eye bank globes.


METHODS
FLAK was performed in six globes and six corneoscleral buttons for each of the following trephination patterns: top hat, mushroom, tongue-groove, and vertical. Manual trephination was performed as control. The wound integrity was tested in incisions closed with 8 sutures, 8 sutures with fibrin adhesive, and 16 sutures by measuring the intraocular pressure required to produce graft-host wound leakage (IOP(L)). Light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed to assess cut surface quality and graft-host interface regularity.


RESULTS
Mushroom and top hat FLAK had significantly higher IOP(L) than vertical or manual trephination (p < 0.0001) for wounds closed with 16 sutures. There was no difference in IOP(L) between top hat, mushroom, and tongue-groove FLAK in wounds closed with 8 sutures with fibrin adhesive (p > 0.75). LM and SEM demonstrated cut surfaces with good quality and smooth edges.


CONCLUSIONS
These preliminary studies show that FLAK produces precise trephination cuts of superior wound strength and stability to that of manual trephination. Adjuvant fibrin glue may further improve wound integrity.
Malta
João Baptista
JB
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, W.K. Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Soong
H Kaz
HK
Shtein
Roni
R
Banitt
Michael
M
Musch
David C
DC
Sugar
Alan
A
Mian
Shahzad I
SI
D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005125:Eye Banks; D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating / Q000379:methods*; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D054018:Lasers, Excimer / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008954:Models, Biological; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000517:prevention & control; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014014:Tissue Adhesives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive; D014014:Tissue Adhesives