The Intralase femtosecond laser provides surgeons with the ability to make very precise incisions in the cornea and these can be combined in a multitude of ways to enhance penetrating keratoplasty or full thickness graft surgery.

Traditionally a circular blade or trephine is used to mechanically cut a circular incision in both donor and patient. The donor cornea is then sticched into the host. With the Intralase laser, we can create "tongue and grooved" patterns to ensure a good fit without any slippage. This ensures good wound apposition and theoretically should reduce astigmatism. The laser creates a wound reaction which also creates good adhesion allowing earlier stitch removal.

Read the article by Sheraz Daya and Marcela Espinosa in Cataract and Refractive Surgery Today- Europe

Schematic showing the "Mushroom" geometric incision

on both donor and host

Scanning electron microscopy showing the "Zig Square"

pattern developed by Sheraz Daya, Medical Director,

Centre for SIght

The Daya Zig Square  notice the perfect alignment of

graft to host and the visible Zig Square geometry where

the clear graft meets the  cloudy host

Crystal clear graft 3 months following surgery