Staged Automated Lamellar Keratoplasty for Anterior Stromal Corneal Dystrophies

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: A staged, automated lamellar keratoplasty technique in patients with anterior corneal stromal dystrophy is described. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of the surgical records at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute from January 1999 to December 2003 was performed involving the above technique for anterior corneal dystrophies. The preoperative and postoperative visual results and the intraoperative variables were recorded. RESULTS: Six procedures were performed on 6 eyes of 5 patients. No complications were encountered. The mean uncorrected visual acuity was 20/114 preoperatively and 20/65 postoperatively, and the mean best spectacle-corrected visual acuity was 20/83 preoperatively and 20/37 postoperatively. No patients lost best-corrected vision. Two recurrences were encountered during the follow-up period of 52 months. CONCLUSION: This staged automated lamellar keratoplasty technique achieves visual results comparable to other techniques for the treatment of this group of disorders.