Femtosecond laser-assisted anterior lamellar keratoplasty (FSALK) versus microkeratome-assisted anterior lamellar keratoplasty (MALK) for the treatment of anterior corneal dystrophy.
Abstract
Purpose: To compare the visual outcome of femtosecond laser-assisted anterior keratoplasty (FSALK) and microkeratome-assisted anterior lamellar keratoplasty (MALK) in anterior corneal dystrophy.
Methods: retrospective comparative chart review of 7 eyes that underwent FSALK and 7 eyes that underwent MALK. The primary outcome was the visual outcome of both procedures. The secondary outcome was the recurrence of the corneal dystrophies.
Results: Mean follow-up time was 30±14(7-51) months for the FSALK group and 127±28(80-127) months for the MALK group. In the FSALK group the preoperative best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) improved from 20/63 to 20/25 at 36 months. In the MALK group there was 1 eye with documented BSCVA over 36 months follow-up; it improved from 20/160 preoperatively to 20/32 at 36 months. Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) at 36 months improved from 20/100 preoperatively to 20/63 in the FSALK group and from 20/200 preoperatively to 20/63 in the MALK group. Five eyes with Reis-Bucklers showed a clinical recurrence at a mean of 142±13(125-152) months. Two eyes with granular dystrophy showed a clinical recurrence at 23 and 80 months of follow-up. One eye in the MALK group had epithelial ingrowth. One eye in the FSALK group with compromised ocular surface due to 2 previous penetrating keratoplasty, suffered bacterial keratitis that ended up with corneal scarring.
Conclusion: Both procedures improve visual outcome for anterior corneal dystrophy. FSALK has theoretical advantages over MALK; however, larger prospective studies are needed to prove this.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication, with the work twelve (12) months after publication simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
