Session Title: Cornea
Session Date/Time: Sunday 17/02/2013 | 08:30-11:00
Paper Time: 09:58
Venue: Hall 2
First Author: : M.Pölzl GERMANY
Co Author(s): : D. Uthoff D. Glischke
Purpose:
We demonstrate a new technique for the preparation of a super thin lamella for DSAEK and comparing this new method with published results in terms of complications and visual outcomes in DMEK.
Setting:
Eye Hospital Bellevue, Kiel, Germany
Methods:
For lamella preparation we used the SCHWIND artificial chamber and the SCHWIND Carriazo-Pendular Microkeratom. For measuring thickness of the corneal graft we used the Palm Scan AP 2000 with an ultrasonic probe frequency of 50MHz. Depending on the pachymetry a combination of the cutting heads is calculated. Usually two cuts are necessary for producing a Superthin lamella. First cut 110 microns, second cut 400 or 450 microns. For loading the implantation spatula the DSAEK Flap is swimming in a bowl. Than we bring the spatula under the swimming Flap and lift it up.
Results:
25 eyes have been treated with swimming DSAEK method. Preoperative mean DCVA (distance corrected visual acuitiy) logMAR was 0,6. Six months postoperative, 8 eyes achieved DCVA logMAR of 0,1; 12 eyes achieved DCVA logMAR of 0,2 and 5 eyes result in DCVA logMAR of 0,4. The mean grafts thickness six months postoperative was 70±20microns. No grafts have been lost through cutting procedure.
Conclusions:
The swimming DSAEK method is a nice alternative to DMEK operation. Costs are lower as lamellar loss hardly exists. Safety, efficiency, predictability are comparable to DMEK procedure.
Financial Disclosure:
None