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3192758 
Journal Article 
Excimer laser mushroom penetrating keratoplasty: new technique 
Della Valle, V; Bonci, P 
2014 
Yes 
European Journal of Ophthalmology
ISSN: 1120-6721 
24 
2 
186-190 
English 
24170519 
PURPOSE: To evaluate retrospectively the outcomes of 15 consecutive mushroom-shaped penetrating keratoplasties performed by using excimer laser for both the recipient bed and the fresh donor corneas.

METHODS: Fifteen eyes of 14 patients who underwent excimer laser mushroom-shaped penetrating keratoplasty from October 13, 2010, to October 14, 2011, were included in our retrospective study. Eight were men and 6 were women, with a mean age of 31.45 ± 6.52 (range 27-65) years. Eleven (73.3%) had postinfective central deep corneal scar; 4 (26.7%) had severe keratoconus with Descemet opacity.

RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 11.9 ± 2.7 months. The mean preoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.15 ± 0.16; the postoperative BCVA was 0.69 ± 0.24 after 12 months with a mean refractive astigmatism of 1.8 ± 1.1 D. The mean preoperative endothelial cell count of the donor corneas was 2297.0 ± 189.7 cells/mm²; after 12 months, it was 1906.5 ± 165.8 with a decrease of 17.0%. No intraoperative complications occurred.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that excimer laser mushroom penetrating keratoplasty is safe. Furthermore, it does not appear to influence the visual outcomes of the penetrating keratoplasty surgery. This technique is useful for those who use an excimer laser.