Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty for Recurrence of Granular Corneal Dystrophy in Postkeratoplasty Eyes.

PURPOSE: To report the clinical and visual outcome of sutureless femtosecond laser-assisted anterior lamellar keratoplasty (FALK) for recurrent granular corneal dystrophy (GCD) in patients who had previously undergone penetrating keratoplasty and phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) performed for recurrent dystrophy in the grafted eyes.

METHODS: Four eyes of 4 patients who underwent FALK for recurrence of GCD in previously grafted eyes and underwent PTK performed for initial recurrence in the grafts were included. Patients who had undergone FALK for other indications were excluded. The patients were evaluated for preoperative and postoperative best-corrected visual acuities (BCVA), and intraoperative and postoperative complications. Visual outcomes and complications, if any, were noted.

RESULTS: FALK was uneventful in all 4 eyes. At last follow-up, BCVA improved by >2 lines in all eyes. Myopic shift in the refractive error was noted in 2 eyes. None of the eyes had any intraoperative or postoperative complications. One case had dissection margins cross the graft-host junction; however, no dehiscence occurred in this case. The grafts were clear at the last follow-up examinations.

CONCLUSIONS: FALK is a safe and effective technique for the management of recurrence of GCD in post-penetrating keratoplasty and post-PTK eyes. BCVA improved by >2 lines after the FALK procedure. None of the patients in this series had any intraoperative or postoperative complications, which was indicative of the safety of the procedure.