1 Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Shandong Institute of Ophthalmology, Shandong Eye Hospital, Jinan 250021, China 2 Xi'an No. 4 Hospital, Xi'an 710004, China
Abstract:Objective: To evaluate and analyze the efficacy and safety of using the femtosecond laser-assisted big-bubble technique for deep lamellar keratoplasty (DLK) to treat corneal stromal dystrophy. Methods: A total of 19 eyes with corneal stromal dystrophy from 16 patients who underwent femtosecond laser-assisted big-bubble DLK at Shandong Eye Hospital from January 2015 to September 2017, followed up more than 12 months and the case data completed were selected for this retrospective case study. Of these eyes, six were diagnosed with granular corneal dystrophy, eight with macular corneal dystrophy, and five with lattice corneal dystrophy. The following aspects of patient eye health were examined: Uncorrected vision, best corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, corneal astigmatism, spherical equivalent, mean corneal curvature, corneal endothelial density, graft rejection, postoperative complications, and disease recurrence. Results: All surgeries were performed successfully with subsequent follow-up visits for 12 to 32 months (17.1±1.3 months). The preoperative best corrected visual acuity among the eyes was between light perception and -0.25. There were 10 eyes that were less than 0.10 and nine eyes ranging from 0.10-0.25. At the last follow-up evaluation, best visual acuity ranged from 0.12-0.80, with five eyes between 0.1 and 0.25, five eyes between 0.30 and 0.40, and nine eyes equal to or above 0.50. Patient vision improved by two-to-eight lines (5.3±1.8 lines) on the Standard Logarithmic visual acuity Chart. Patient corneal astigmatism values ranged from 0.50 to 2.60 D (1.62±0.57 D) before surgery and from 1.30 to 4.2 D (2.56±0.87 D) at the last follow-up evaluation. Spherical equivalent of the patients ranged from -4.00 to +1.25 D (-1.29±1.86 D) before surgery and from -7.50-+8.00(-0.48±3.84)D at the last follow-up evaluation. Corneal curvature ranged from 42.78-45.38(44.24±0.95)D before surgery and from 39.20-45.06(43.12±2.22)D at the last follow-up evaluation. There was an 8% loss of corneal endothelial cells at 12 months after surgery compared with the cell count one month after surgery. The thickness of the recipient bed was 20-39(29.4±6.1)μm at the last follow-up evaluation. Micro-perforations in the recipient bed and a small amount of blood between the graft and the recipient bed were discovered in one eye. At the last follow-up assessment, the connections between the corneal grafts and the recipient beds of all of the patients were tight and transparent. No cases of visible loose lines, interstitial fluids, graft rejection or recurring dystrophy were present. Conclusions: Femtosecond laser-assisted big-bubble DLK is a safe procedure to treat corneal stromal dystrophy. Postoperative astigmatism is minimal, and general visual acuity is satisfactory.
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