title: Excimer laser mushroom penetrating keratoplasty: new technique.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate retrospectively the outcomes of 15 consecutive mushroom-shaped penetrating keratoplasties performed by using excimer laser for both the recipient bed and the fresh donor corneas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen eyes of 14 patients who underwent excimer laser mushroom-shaped penetrating keratoplasty from October 13, 2010, to October 14, 2011, were included in our retrospective study. Eight were men and 6 were women, with a mean age of 31.45 ± 6.52 (range 27-65) years. Eleven (73.3%) had postinfective central deep corneal scar; 4 (26.7%) had severe keratoconus with Descemet opacity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean follow-up was 11.9 ± 2.7 months. The mean preoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.15 ± 0.16; the postoperative BCVA was 0.69 ± 0.24 after 12 months with a mean refractive astigmatism of 1.8 ± 1.1 D. The mean preoperative endothelial cell count of the donor corneas was 2297.0 ± 189.7 cells/mm²; after 12 months, it was 1906.5 ± 165.8 with a decrease of 17.0%. No intraoperative complications occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results showed that excimer laser mushroom penetrating keratoplasty is safe. Furthermore, it does not appear to influence the visual outcomes of the penetrating keratoplasty surgery. This technique is useful for those who use an excimer laser.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, S. Maria della Scaletta Hospital, Imola, Bologna - Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Della Valle
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bonci
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002452:Cell Count; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D063171:Corneal Pachymetry; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating / Q000379:methods*; D054018:Lasers, Excimer / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology