Comparing deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty and automated lamellar therapeutic keratoplasty in patients with keratoconus.

摘要

PURPOSE: We compared outcomes of deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) and automated lamellar therapeutic keratoplasty (ALTK) in patients with keratoconus. METHODS: Seventy eyes with keratoconus that underwent corneal transplantation using either DALK (n = 40) or ALTK (n = 30) were included in this retrospective study. DALK was performed with Anwar's big-bubble technique and ALTK using an ALTK system. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), refractive results, and complications were analyzed. RESULTS: Mean follow-up in the DALK (16.68 +/- 3.36 months) and ALTK (15.27 +/- 2.50 months) groups were similar (p = 0.058). Mean final BCVA of patients in the DALK group was 0.31 +/- 0.14 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) and in the ALTK group 0.34 +/- 0.15 logMAR, (p = 0.492). Corresponding figures for final postoperative spherical equivalents were -3.45 +/- 0.77 D and -4.19 +/- 0.99 D, respectively (p = 0.001). Final postoperative degree of astigmatism was similar in the two groups: DALK -4.28 +/- 0.66 D; ALTK -4.50 +/- 1.05 D (p = 0.307). CONCLUSION: Final visual acuity outcomes were comparable for the DALK and ALTK groups. Thus, ALTK seem to be as efficacious as DALK for surgical treatment of keratoconus.