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DALK may yield satisfactory vision results in repair of herpetic stromal opacities
Cornea. 2010;29(1):60-64.
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Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty appears to be safe and restore vision in eyes with corneal opacity caused by herpes simplex viral infection, according to a study.
In 52 eyes of 52 patients with postherpetic stromal scars but intact endothelium treated with DALK using the big bubble technique, either with exposure of Descemet's membrane (45 patients) or with a pre-Descemetic plane (seven patients), 20/20 final vision was achieved in 27 patients (52%). Overall, 20/30 or better best corrected visual acuity was achieved in 80% after a mean follow-up of 31 months.
No graft rejection or recurrence of herpes simplex virus occurred in the patients in the study, which may be attributable to the per-protocol use of prophylactic antiviral medication, the authors noted. Despite difficulties in assessing preoperative endothelial cell density, the researchers estimated that the average endothelial cell loss by study completion was 1.3%.
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