Progressive Loss of Power After Myopic Epikeratoplasty

ABSTRACT

It has been widely accepted due to its simplicity, safety and effectiveness to correct high myopia by epikeratoplasty. We evaluated clinical results of 23 cases of myopic epikeratoplasty over one year follow up. The uncorrected visual acuity improved in all cases and corrected visual acuity improved in 20 cases (91%). But, in 5 cases (22%), we experienced progressive loss of lenticular power more than 4 diopter of emmetropia and their clinical courses were also reviewed Two cases were both eyes of the same patient. The loss of lenticular power appeared as early in 5th week and even in 6th month postoperatively. We could not find any differences between this grolp of power loss and that of remained well corrected within 4 diopter of emmetropia, except preoperative spherical equivalent (-19 diopter vs -15 diopter), period of reepithelization (8.2 days vs 5.9 days), and mean age (25.8 years vs 31.1 years). But, only the difference of mean age was statistically significant (p<0.05). In addition, the surgical techniques the process of manufacturing tissue lenticule, and postoperative care might be document2d as possible factors.