Deep lamellar keratoplasty (DLKP) in keratoconus patients using viscoadaptive viscoelastics

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the effectiveness and safety of using viscoadaptive viscoelastics in deep lamellar keratoplasty (DLKP) for keratoconus. METHODS: A nonrandomized, comparative, interventional case series was performed on 12 eyes of 10 consecutive keratoconus patients without a history of acute hydrops. Patients were treated with DLKP using ophthalmic viscosurgical devices (OVDs) to dissociate Descemet membrane (DM) from the stroma before suturing of the donor cornea. Eight eyes were operated using Viscoat (dispersive), and 4 eyes were operated using Healon V (viscoadaptive). RESULTS: Six out of 8 eyes in the Viscoat group were successfully treated, and 2 eyes were converted to PKP because of tears in the DM. Another 3 eyes had double chambers as a result of perforations or tears in DM, which were treated by injecting air into the anterior chamber. All 4 eyes in the Healon V group were successfully operated, with 1 case with microperforation of DM during suturing. Healon V offered better control of the area to be dissociated and served as a pseudostroma that protects the exposed DM while the overlying stroma is maneuvered. CONCLUSION: Healon V is a valuable tool for performing DLKP in difficult cases such as keratoconus.