Abstract
Purpose::
To evaluate refraction and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in relation to the corneal recipient bed‘s central thickness (CRBT) and the total corneal central thickness (TCCT) in patients who underwent deep lamellar keratoplasty (DLKP) by intrastromal dissection.
Methods::
30 eyes of 30 patients were examined 12 months after DLKP by intrastromal dissection with a stable stromal interfacies and suture removal. Central thickness were determined using OCT VisanteTM (Carl Zeiss Meditec) (mean value of 5 scans for each eye). Refraction and BCVA were determined using Snellen chart.
Results::
The mean of CRBT was 137,80 ± 42,44 µm (range 72-256) and the mean of TCCT was 637,13 ± 63,65 µm (range 522-750). BCVA was 0.81 + 0.20 (range 1-0.35) with a refraction in spherical equivalent (SE) of - 2.57 + 3,76 D. The correlation between BCVA, CRBT and TCCT shows a low statistical correlation (Pearson method: r= -0.517 for CRBT and r= -0,423 for TCCT). No correlation was found between SE and CRBT or TCCT.
Conclusions::
CRBT and TCCT in DLKP may have a low influence on visual acuity; other factors like astigmatism and interface regularity probably are more involved in functional outcomes. SE seems to be completely independent.
Keywords: transplantation • imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, SLO, ultrasound) • keratoconus