title: Comparing deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty and automated lamellar therapeutic keratoplasty in patients with keratoconus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We compared outcomes of deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) and automated lamellar therapeutic keratoplasty (ALTK) in patients with keratoconus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy eyes with keratoconus that underwent corneal transplantation using either DALK (n = 40) or ALTK (n = 30) were included in this retrospective study. DALK was performed with Anwar's big-bubble technique and ALTK using an ALTK system. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), refractive results, and complications were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean follow-up in the DALK (16.68 ± 3.36 months) and ALTK (15.27 ± 2.50 months) groups were similar (p = 0.058). Mean final BCVA of patients in the DALK group was 0.31 ± 0.14 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) and in the ALTK group 0.34 ± 0.15 logMAR, (p = 0.492). Corresponding figures for final postoperative spherical equivalents were -3.45 ± 0.77 D and -4.19 ± 0.99 D, respectively (p = 0.001). Final postoperative degree of astigmatism was similar in the two groups: DALK -4.28 ± 0.66 D; ALTK -4.50 ± 1.05 D (p = 0.307).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Final visual acuity outcomes were comparable for the DALK and ALTK groups. Thus, ALTK seem to be as efficacious as DALK for surgical treatment of keratoconus.
authors.affiliation: Haydarpasa Numune Education and Research Hospital, Ophthalmology Clinic, Istanbul, Turkey. torunbanu@yahoo.com.|Tıbbiye cad. Haydarpasa Numune Hastanesi, Goz Hastalıkları Klinigi, 34688, Uskudar, Istanbul, Turkey. torunbanu@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Banu Torun
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Acar
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: O Sevki
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.affiliation: Haydarpasa Numune Education and Research Hospital, Ophthalmology Clinic, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: I Bülent
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Buttanri
authors.affiliation: Haydarpasa Numune Education and Research Hospital, Ophthalmology Clinic, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: M Şahin
authors.initials: MŞ
authors.lastname: Sevim
authors.affiliation: Haydarpasa Numune Education and Research Hospital, Ophthalmology Clinic, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Suphi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Acar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003315:Cornea / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D057111:Descemet Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012029:Refraction, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult