Performed by our medical director since 1997 and reported at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery in 1998, the procedure involves the use of a microkeratome, a device to make the flap in Lasik laser eye surgery.
The microkeratome is used to remove diseased or scarred tissue at the front of the cornea and this is replaced with a new "flap' of tissue from a donor eye created in a similar manner.
Minimal or no stitches are required and these are removed within a few weeks. Visual recovery can be rapid, however stability can take a year or more.
This procedure is only suitable for conditions that involve the very front part of the cornea.
Advantages
| |
• |
Closed eye surgery |
| |
• |
No chance of blinding Endothelial rejection (by retaining the recipient's own endothelial layer) |
| |
• |
Rapid surgery under drop anaesthesia |
| |
• |
Rapid visual recovery |
| |
• |
Easily replaceable (if disease recurs) |
Disadvantages
| |
• |
Technically challenging |
|
|
A microkeratome is used to create a flap in ALTK
First patient performed in 1997 with a condition called Reiss-Bucklers corneal dystrophy, before (middle) showing the hazy cornea and one week later (bottom), showing a clear corneal flap in place.
|
