Treatment of superficial corneal opacities with corneal stromal lenticule obtained through SMILE surgery.

Aim: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and feasibility of superficial corneal opacities treated by excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) combined with small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE)-derived corneal stromal lenticule transplantation.

Methods: A retrospective interventional case series of nine patients aged 12-59y with superficial corneal opacity caused by different pathologies who underwent standardized PTK combined with SMILE-derived corneal stromal lenticule transplantation was examined. Lenticule patches were fixed with fibrin glue.

Comparison of corneal biological parameters between transepithelial and epithelium-off corneal cross-linking in keratoconus.

Aim: To evaluate the differences in corneal biological parameters between transepithelial and epithelium-off corneal cross-linking in keratoconus.

Methods: In our prospective clinical trial, 40 patients (60 eyes) with progressive keratoconus were randomized to undergo corneal cross-linking with transepithelial (TE group, =30) or epithelium-off (EO group, =30) keratoconus. Examinations comprised topography, corneal biomechanical analysis and specular microscopy at 6mo postoperatively.