title: Application of the femtosecond laser LASIK microkeratome in eye banking.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the literature for recent advancements in the femtosecond laser technology with regard to its applications in corneal transplantation and eye banking.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Advancements in corneal surgery have encouraged the use of disease-specific corneal subcomponents, utilized in procedures such as anterior-lamellar keratoplasty and endothelial keratoplasty, instead of traditional transplant procedures to minimize adverse effects of penetrating keratoplasty. Femtosecond laser microkeratomes can precisely create flaps for such transplant procedures, achieve better wound stability, and promote healing by shaped wound configurations. Laser microkeratomes have been compared to traditional mechanical microkeratomes for keratoplasty procedures from various aspects and are superior in some aspects and offer unique capabilities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Femtosecond laser applications in eye banking include preparation of donor and recipient corneas for use in penetrating keratoplasty, anterior-lamellar keratoplasty, and endothelial keratoplasty. Advantages of femtosecond laser microkeratomes include higher precision of the cut, ability to achieve thinner flaps, and wound configurations that allow greater wound stability, shorter recovery time, and less postoperative pain. However, cost and availability at the eye-bank level may hinder widespread and immediate application.
authors.affiliation: Jacobi Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, 111 East 210th Street, Bronx, NY 10467, USA
authors.forename: Sanket U
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Gritz
mesh_terms: D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D005125:Eye Banks / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000295:instrumentation*; D054018:Lasers, Excimer / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013524:Surgical Flaps