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Lamellar excimer laser keratoplasty: Reproducible photoablation of corneal tissue

A laboratory study

Documenta Ophthalmologica volume 82, pages 193–200 (1992)Cite this article

Abstract

We examined the depth of ablation of the recipient bed with different counts of oscillations of excimer laser beam, to determine the correlation between planned and real depth. The ablation rate per oscillation was tested preoperatively by blackened photographic paper of defined thickness and thus was calculated to be 5 μm. Forty pig eyes were used for the first study. Each eight eyes were ablated in the planned depth 100 μm, 200 μm, 300 μm, 400 μm and 500 μm. The corneal thickness was measured with an ultrasonic pachymeter before and after the procedure. The depth measured after the photoablation was 99.4 ± 36.4 μm for 100 μm planned depth, 186.7 ± 55.3 μm for 200 μm, 298.4 ± 68.5 μm for 300 μm, 373.9 ± 65.7 μm for 400 μm and 480.1 ± 59.3 μm for 500 μm. Comparing the depth measured after the photoablation to planned depth, there was a significant correlation (correlation coefficient: R = 0.93; p < 0.0001). Five other corneas trephinated from pig cadaver eyes were ablated from the endothelial side to the desired thickness (100 to 500 μm) of lamellar graft. In a second step a donor mask was placed onto the cornea and a laser light spot was led until perforating on all sides. The lamellar keratoplasty was completed by suturing the corneal graft into the bed. Macroscopic and microscopic examination of sutured eyes after fixation showed a good fit of wound margins and stromal interface. These results indicate that excimer laser is useful for reproducible corneal photoablation in lamellar keratoplasty.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology and Eye Hospital, University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany

    Toshiaki Kubota, Berthold Seitz, Kazuaki Tetsumoto &  Gottfried O. H. Naumann

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  1. Toshiaki Kubota
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  2. Berthold Seitz
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  3. Kazuaki Tetsumoto
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  4. Gottfried O. H. Naumann
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Kubota, T., Seitz, B., Tetsumoto, K. et al. Lamellar excimer laser keratoplasty: Reproducible photoablation of corneal tissue. Doc Ophthalmol 82, 193–200 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00160765

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00160765

Key words

  • Cornea
  • Excimer laser
  • Lamellar keratoplasty
  • Photoablation