title: Sutureless anterior lamellar keratoplasty with phacoemulsification.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the results of microkeratome-assisted sutureless anterior lamellar keratoplasty (SALK) with and without phacoemulsification.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective comparative interventional case series, patients with superficial anterior corneal opacity were divided into 2 groups. Eyes in group 1 (n = 6) had associated cataract and underwent SALK with phacoemulsification surgery (SALK triple). Eyes in group 2 (n = 6) did not have cataract and underwent only anterior lamellar keratoplasty. A 200-μm microkeratome head was used for host and donor cut. Fibrin glue was applied at the graft-host junction. Visual acuity, refractive error, topographic changes, and pachymetry were noted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean follow-up was 9 ± 2.7 months. The best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) improved significantly over the preoperative value in both the groups at 1 month, 6 months, and the last follow-up (P = 0.028). The mean gain in BSCVA was 8.8 ± 3.4 lines and 6.8 ± 5.2 lines, respectively, for groups 1 and 2 at the last follow-up, with no statistically significant difference in the BSCVA of both groups at the last follow-up (P = 0.80). There was no statistical difference at the last follow-up between the 2 groups with respect to spherical equivalent (P = 0.6), cylinder (P = 0.81), topographic astigmatism (P = 0.75), and graft thickness (P = 0.81). One patient in group 1 underwent graft rejection, which completely reversed with treatment. No cases of graft dislocation, infection, epithelial ingrowth, vascularization, or recurrence of primary pathology were noted in either group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SALK triple is an effective surgery for early visual rehabilitation of patients with superficial anterior corneal opacity and concomitant cataract.
authors: Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors: Tushar
authors: T
authors: Agarwal
authors: Pooja
authors: P
authors: Bandivadekar
authors: Namrata
authors: N
authors: Sharma
authors: Pradeep
authors: P
authors: Sagar
authors: Jeewan S
authors: JS
authors: Titiyal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002386:Cataract / Q000150:complications*; D003318:Corneal Opacity / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D063171:Corneal Pachymetry; D019781:Corneal Topography; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000379:methods*; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014014:Tissue Adhesives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive; D014014:Tissue Adhesives