An experimental study on femtosecond laser-assisted corneal allogenic lenticule transplantation combined with collagen cross-linking in rabbits

Session Details

Session Title: Moderated Poster Session: Trends in Refractive Surgery

Venue: Poster Village: Pod 1

First Author: : M.Li CHINA

Co Author(s): :    X. Zhou                       

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To investigate the feasibility of femtosecond laser assisted corneal small incision allogenic lenticule transplantation combined with collagen cross-linking and to evaluate the biomechanical and morphological changes after transplantation in rabbits.

Setting:

Eye and ENT hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

Methods:

Sixteen New Zealand white rabbits were included. Fourteen eyes were chosen as donors which underwent SMILE. Seven of the extracted allogenic lenticules were inserted into pockets in Group A respectively and went through accelerate corneal collagen cross-linking (lens-CXL group). Seven lenticules underwent accelerate cross-linking in vitro and were transplanted into Group B afterwards (CXL-lens group). Group C was the control group. Slit lamp microscopy, corneal topography, Corvis ST and anterior segment OCT were observed pre- and postoperatively. Samples were observed by HE staining and transmission electron microscope 2 days and 180 days postoperatively. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results:

Mild corneal edema occurred in the early postoperative days was absorbed gradually over time. The lenticule with undetectable border fused with normal tissue around by 180 days. The central corneal thickness and the front corneal surface curvature increased after transplantation. OCT showed that the central lenticule thickness remained stable during 180-days observation. Corvis ST showed that the DA, A2 T and A2 V values at 30 days and 180 days postoperatively were statistically different from preoperative level in Group A, and the A2 T values at 90 and 180 days were significantly different from preoperative level in Group B.

Conclusions:

Femtosecond laser-assisted corneal small incision lenticule allotransplantation combined with collagen cross-linking seems to be feasible and safe. The cornea deformation parameter changes showed it can effectively improve corneal biomechanical features.

Financial Disclosure:

None