The comparison of femtosecond laser-assisted penetrating keratoplasty with conventional surgery in terms of endothelial safety: ex vivo study using porcine eyes.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of using femtosecond (FS) laser technology for penetrating keratoplasty (PK) in terms of corneal graft endothelial ultrastructure and viability in porcine eyes.

Methods: Thirty-two freshly enucleated porcine eyes were divided into 4 equal groups (n = 8): group 1, incomplete penetration using the FS laser (a 100 microm-depth from the endothelial side remained); group 2, complete penetration using the FS; group 3, trephination using a vacuum trephine until the aqueous humor appeared; group 4, no treatment (control group). For groups 1 and 2, side cuts were performed using a 60-kHz FS laser (IntraLase FS Laser, Abbot Medical Optics, Abbott Park, IL). Preoperative ultrasound pachymetry was used to make measurements at 5 positions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to determine morphological changes, and light microscopy with Alizarin red staining was used to determine the amount of cell death.

Results: Preoperative corneal thicknesses were similar for all groups. All 4 groups showed similar corneal endothelial cell morphology and viability at the graft center (P = 0.15, Kruskal-Wallis test). At the graft border, endothelial cell damage was minor in group 1, moderate in group 2, and most severe and diffuse in group 3 (P = 0.009, Kruskal-Wallis test).

Conclusions: FS laser use is safe for the endothelium at the graft center and has less harmful effects on the endothelium at the incision area than does conventional trephination. Therefore, FS laser-assisted corneal grafts with complete penetration seems to be the optimum choice for preserving endothelial cells during PK.