Purpose:

To evaluate the visual results, efficacy, and complications of deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty in cases with keratoconus.

Materials Methods:

Eleven eyes with keratocnus of 11 patients who had deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty between February 2001 and April 2004 were included in the study. Visual acquities, spherical and cylindrical corrections, keratometric values, corneal thicknesses, and intraocular pressures, postoperative endothelial count Orbscan simK values and complications were evaluated.

Results:

Four of the cases were female and 7 of the cases were male and the mean age was 27,73±9,94 (17-44). Cases were followed for a mean of 33,09±12,41 moths (12-61). Significant increase in the postoperative visual acuities were detected. Preoperative spherical correction was -9,41±6,10 D, cylindrical correction was -3,44±0,87 D, mean keratometric value was 52,62±5,58 D, and postoperative values were -0,34±1,98 D, -3,38±1,20 D and 46,35±1,15 D (p=0,003, p=0,77, p=0,005) respectively. Mean endothelial count at the end of follow-up was found 1871,81±469,57 in mm2. Mean simK astigmatism taken with Orbscan was detected as 5,10±2,10 D. No postoperative complication was encountered other than a fibrillary material at the interface that does not create tissue reaction around it and does not interfere with vision.

Conclusion:

In spite of small number of cases we think that DALK is a surgical method that can be a candidate for replacing PK for reasons that it reduces the risk of immune response against endothelium, preserves better the endothelial count, reduces the risks of intraocular surgery and provides satisfactory visual results.

Keywords: Keratoconus, deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty