ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: We developed corneal graft safety ring for improving of penetrating keratoplasty success rate and minimizing the refractive error, and evaluated its stability in the rabbit cornea. METHODS: Following circular corneal incision (depth: 200 microgram, diameter: 7.5 mm) with 7.5 mm Hess-Burg barron vaccum trephine, corneal stroma was dissected toward the corneal center with 6.5 mm diameter. After insertion of the corneal graft safety ring (diameter: 6.0 mm, thickness: 0.15 mm), we examined gross and histologic findings of the rabbit cornea at postoperative 1week, 1month, 3months. RESULTS: The corneal graft safety ring was maintained stable in rabbit cornea for 3months grossly. Histologic finding around corneal graft safety ring showed inflammatory cells and neovascularization which was increased by 1month, and thereafter decreased markedly and maintained stable. CONCLUSIONS: Corneal graft safety ring implantation seemed to be an amenable procedure for improving penetrating keratoplasty outcome.