Abstract

SA.09.01

Clinical results of femtosecondlaser-assisted penetrating keratoplasty

Florian Birnbaum, Antonia Wiggermann, Daniel Böhringer, Philip Maier, Thomas Reinhard
Universitäts-Augenklinik Freiburg

Background and purpose
Femtosecondlaser-assisted penetrating keratoplasty allows profiled trephinations as e.g. tophat and mushroom profiles.
Methods
We performed 82 femtosecondlaser-assisted penetrating keratoplasties (52 tophat and 30 mushroom profiles). The mean follow-up currently is 4.1 months (range 1-12 months). We examined the postoperative visual acuity, refraction, graft astigmatism (Orbscan topography), wound healing, time point of suture removal, occurrence of complications and of immune reactions.
Results
Mean visual acuity is 0.2 in the tophat group and 0.48 in the mushroom group (means were generated from logMAR values). Mean astigmatism is 5.0 diopters in the tophat group and 6.1 diopters in the mushroom group (p=0.25). Total suture removal was performed in 2 patients 9 months postoperatively, 18 patients had 1 running suture left and 61 both running sutures. Two immune reactions were observed. 
Conclusions
Femtosecondlaser-assisted penetrating keratoplasty is a safe surgical method. Functional and refractive results are to date comparable with those of conventional trephination methods. Perhaps in the tophat profile an early complete suture removal and therefore faster visual rehabilitation is possible. A final evaluation of this surgical method is reasonable after complete suture removal in a larger cohort of patients.

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