Retrospective Analysis of a New Intrastromal Dissection Technique Using the Retinal Reflex for Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe a new surgical technique for deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty. Methods: All pupils in the recipient eyes were dilated preoperatively. Vertical grooving was performed using a crescent blade with a width of 5 mm and a depth of one-third to half corneal thickness on the temporal side of the limbus. Stromal dissection was performed as close as possible to Descemet membrane by observing the gap between the gold line by retinal reflex and the front edge of the crescent blade. Lamellar dissection was performed along the lamellar plane using corneal dissectors. The ophthalmic viscoelastic device was injected into the intrastromal pocket to separate the anterior and posterior stroma and an anterior corneal lamella was excised. A donor cornea was sutured into the recipient bed. Results: In 18 eyes, none of the patients had Descemet membrane rupture during surgery. The mean postoperative residual stromal thickness was 80 ± 31 m. The mean central corneal thickness after surgery was 660 ± 69 m. At the last follow-up, the cornea was cleared in all 18 eyes on slit-lamp examination. Conclusions: We estimated the residual stromal thickness based on the gap between the gold line by the retinal reflex and crescent blade, and intrastromal lamellar dissection was performed using a smooth corneal dissector. Consequently, the surface of stromal dissection was smooth, and the residual stromal thickness was even.