Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To describe the morphological and dimensional characteristics of the stromal folds and interface particles that appears after deep lamellar kratoplasty (DLK). Methods: A central scan of full–thickness cornea was performed with a confocal microscope (Confoscan, Fortune Technology, Italy) in 7 eyes (7 patients) one week after DLK. Preoperative diagnosis included corneal ectasia after radial keratotomy (1), actinic keratoconjunctivitis (2), and granular dystrophy (4). The widest and the narrowest portion of each fold were measured by using the best in focus frame with the NAVIS software V. 3.1.2 (NIDEK, Multi–Instrument Diagnostic System, Japan). The number of Interface particles and there mean diameter were counted and measured with the NAVIS software V. 3.1.2. Results: Mean widest portion of the folds was 33.8 ± 16.2 µm, mean narrowest portion of the folds was 14.1 ± 8.7 µm. Mean number of particles at the interface was 40.2 ± 34.7 (range 4 to 87). Mean particles diameter was 9.6 ± 3.7 µm (range 3.3 to 46.3 µm). Conclusions: Confocal microscopy is able to show stromal folds and interface particles after DLK. With the adequate software it is possible to analyze morphological and dimensional characteristics of both.
Keywords: cornea: clinical science • cornea: stroma and keratocytes • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: systems/equipment/techniques