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ALTK manages stromal scarring from trachoma
Automated lamellar therapeutic keratoplasty can treat anterior stromal corneal scarring caused by trachoma, according to a study.
“In our experience, the ALTK system was easy to use with no intraoperative adverse effects,” the study authors said. “The smooth lamellar cut produced by the microkeratome provided congruous surfaces and minimized interface-related complications.”
The authors retrospectively evaluated the case records of 17 consecutive patients with trachomatous keratopathy treated by automated lamellar therapeutic keratoplasty (ALTK). Mean patient age was 50.3 ± 14.1 years.
Patients were followed up daily in the hospital and then at 1 week and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. Primary outcome measures included uncorrected visual acuity, best corrected visual acuity, keratometry, pachymetry, time to epithelialization, graft clarity and complications.
Median time to epithelialization was 6 days. At the end of 1 year, 12 eyes had BCVA of 6/18 or better. There was a statistically significant improvement in mean BCVA at 1 year postop (P < .001), and corneal astigmatism decreased from 4.8 ± 2.08 D preoperatively to 2.85 ± 1.33 D at 1 year.
Six eyes developed persistent epithelial defects, and one of these eyes developed a graft infection.