Descemetic and Predescemetic DALK in Keratoconus Patients: A Clinical and Confocal Perspective Study. (26th August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schiano-Lomoriello, Domenico; Colabelli-Gisoldi, Rossella Annamaria; Nubile, Mario; Oddone, Francesco; Ducoli, Giorgio; Villani, Carlo Maria; Mastropasqua, Leonardo; Pocobelli, Augusto
• Other Names: Costagliola Ciro Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: BioMed research international. Volume 2014(2014)
• Publication Date: 2014-08-26
• Subjects: Medicine -- Periodicals; Biology -- Periodicals; Biotechnology -- Periodicals; Life sciences -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1155/2014/123156
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2314-6133

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose . To evaluate the clinical outcomes and in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) features of keratoconus patients who underwent deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK). Methods . DALK was performed using the big bubble technique in all the patients. If the bubble was not successful to bare the descemet membrane, a manual dissection layer-by layer was performed to expose a deep stromal plane close to the DM. The patients were divided in two groups depending on the intraoperative baring of the descemet membrane: predescemetic DALK (PD-DALK) and descemetic DALK (D-DALK) group. Results . One month after surgery the D-DALK patients show an increase of mean BCVA. In the PD-DALK group mean BCVA did not show significant improvement as compared to preoperative values. At 6 months after surgery mean BCVA was found to be similar in both groups. At 1 month IVCM the peak of reflectivity of the interface was lower in D-DALK group compared to PD-DALK. At 6 months the values of reflectivity were comparable. Conclusions . At 1 month D-DALK seems to lead to a minor interface reflectivity and to a better BCVA; these differences disappear after 6 months and the values of interface reflectivity and BCVA are comparable between D-DALK and PD-DALK.