Epikeratoplasty for keratoconus

ABSTRACT

The 6 eyes of 6 patients operated on using keratoconic epikeratoplasty are evaluated, and the mean 11-month postoperative results are reported. Uncorrected visual acuities improved in 4 patients and were maintained in 1 patient. One patient revealed a decrease of uncorrected visual acuity in the postoperative 6th month. Two patients showed an improvement of over 2 Snellen lines. Two patients showed the same corrected visual acuity, and that of 2 patients decreased within the postoperative 6-months follow-up. There was a significant decrease of myopia in terms of spherical equivalent. As a result, 4 cases showed a postoperative refractive error from +1.0 to -2.5D. Two cases were myopic deviated, -4.0 and -5.0D, and need further observation. In all cases, there was an effective flattening of the protruding cone with a mean decrease of over 11D of keratometry readings. Complete reepithelization occurred within 12 days, (average 7.5 days) and a moderate pressure patch was used as a routine procedure to promote the reepithelization.