Abstract
Purpose :
To evaluate safety, accuracy and reproducibility of a novel microkeratome (SLc Expert Microkeratome®, Gebauer Medizintechnik GmbH, Neuhausen, Germany) allowing for single-pass preparation of ultrathin Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (UT-DSAEK) grafts.
Methods :
This is a retrospective analysis of 5 eyes with corneal endothelial decompensation in which UT-DSAEK was performed using the SLc Expert Microkeratome®. Cutting depth was based on donor thickness measured by AS-OCT (Visante-OCT® Anterior Segment Model 1000, Zeiss, Jena, Germany) along 4 meridians directly before preparation and adjusted to a target central graft thickness between 50-80 µm. After preparation control AS-OCT measurements were performed. 1 and 3 months after UT-DSAEK follow-up examinations were performed including visual acuity, corneal thickness and graft thickness (SPECTRALIS® Anterior Segment Modul, Spectral-Domain OCT, Heidelberg Engineering GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany)
Results :
All donor preparations were performed without complications. In all cases deviations in central graft thickness from targeted thickness were less than 20 µm at each time point (average deviation to target thickness directly after preparation: 13.36 ± 6.61 µm, p=0.445; at 1 month: 4.0 ± 5.73 µm, p=0.222; at 3 months: 5.53 ± 6.63 µm, p=0.097). Peripheral graft thickness showed uniformity in relation to cutting direction (p=0.146).
Conclusions :
The SLc Expert Microkeratome® reliably cuts ultrathin grafts in a single-pass technique with high accuracy.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.