Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty with Descemets membrane baring: experimental and clinical trial

• Grant number: 10/05454-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: May 01, 2010
• End date: April 30, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Clinics and Surgery
• Principal Investigator: José Luiz Laus
• Grantee: José Luiz Laus
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Deep corneal stromal diseases such as corneal dystrophy, keratoconus, corneal abscesses, keratomalacia, and iris prolapse are relatively common in humans and animals. Corneal transplantation may be useful to manage these abnormalities with penetrating keratoplasty (PK) one of the most widely used techniques for this purpose. Some stromal keratopathies have no involvement of the endothelium and Descemet's membrane such that their removal during PK could lead to increased corneal graft rejection and endothelial cell loss. Split thickness lamellar keratoplasties such as deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) with and without Descemet's baring have been developed in human patients. However, scientific studies of lamellar keratoplasties are few and controversial. This study will compare the most used techniques of deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty with Descemet's exposure (DALK) and compare it to penetrating keratoplasty. Initially, the experimental trial will be carried out and 20 fresh equine eyes will be used. DALK will be performed by viscodissection and aerodissection (Big-bubble) techniques. Surgical techniques will be evaluated regarding their safety as well as efficiency. Following experimental study, a clinical trial will be performed and 24 rabbits will be used. Animals will be divided in two groups and will be submitted to DALK (using the technique which best result was achieved during experimental trial) or penetrating keratoplasty. A corneal bank will be previous constituted with frozen corneas from rabbits used for Surgical Technique Classes. Clinical signs will be observed during post operative period and after 3, 7, 14, 21, 30 and 60 days, corneas will be collected and submitted to histological evaluation. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MARTINS, BIANCA C.; BROOKS, DENNIS E.; PLUMMER, CARYN E.; SAMUELSON, DON A.; MANGAN, BRENDAN G.; LAUS, JOSE L.. Light microscopic evaluation and scanning electron microscopic analysis of horse eyes following deep anterior lamellar keratectomy. VETERINARY OPHTHALMOLOGY, v. 16, n. 1, p. 42-51, JUL 2013. (10/05454-1, 09/09970-7)

MARTINS, BIANCA C.; BROOKS, DENNIS E.; PLUMMER, CARYN E.; SAMUELSON, DON A.; MANGAN, BRENDAN G.; LAUS, JOSE L.. Light microscopic evaluation and scanning electron microscopic analysis of horse eyes following deep anterior lamellar keratectomy. VETERINARY OPHTHALMOLOGY, v. 16, p. 10-pg., 2013-07-01. (09/09970-7, 10/05454-1)