Eccentric lamellar keratolimbal grafts harvested with a manually guided microkeratome. Technical report

Ophthalmic Res. 2007;39(3):179-83. doi: 10.1159/000103238. Epub 2007 May 25.

Abstract

Background: To perform lamellar keratolimbal allograft transplantation in a one-step procedure with a single graft, we investigated the feasibility of harvesting eccentric lamellar keratolimbal grafts from conventionally processed corneoscleral buttons using a manually guided microkeratome in conjunction with an artificial anterior chamber system.

Methods: We used the Moria LSK-One microkeratome and the automated lamellar therapeutic keratoplasty (ALTK) system (Antony, France). Ten human donor eyes were used to obtain single-piece lamellar keratolimbal grafts. Specimens were processed for light and electron microscopy.

Results: Eccentric keratolimbal grafts could be obtained from all human donor buttons. Grafts include a crescent-shaped limbal and a large corneal portion. No visible damage to the limbal region was discernible.

Conclusion: Our data show that the LSK-One microkeratome in conjunction with the ALTK system allows harvesting eccentric keratolimbal grafts from donor corneoscleral buttons.

MeSH terms

  • Corneal Diseases / surgery
  • Corneal Transplantation / methods*
  • Equipment Design
  • Humans
  • Limbus Corneae / cytology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Tissue and Organ Harvesting / instrumentation*