Femtosecond laser technology may set new standard for PK, surgeons say

MONTE CARLO, Monaco — Femtosecond laser technology may change the way corneal transplants are performed, according to several surgeons speaking here at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons Winter Refractive Surgery meeting.

Gerd Auffarth, MD, said he has performed several cases of penetrating keratoplasty (PK) using the Femtec femtosecond laser system. Indications for the transplants included bullous keratopathy after cataract surgery, granular corneal dystrophy, Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy and keratoconus, Dr. Auffarth said.

“The incision quality is very high, the cut is very clear, and the procedure is safer because the eye remains a closed system for a long time during surgery,” he said.

Mark Tomalla, MD, said the femtosecond technology can be used not only in transparent corneal tissue, but also with extreme precision in scarred tissue.

“We performed several penetrating keratoplasties in patients with completely clouded corneas and in corneas with various degrees of scarring. The rate of ablation remains the same, as the femtosecond light penetrates the opaque cornea just as efficiently,” Dr. Tomalla said.

“The use of femtosecond laser sets a completely new standard in the performance of PK,” he added.