Anatomical and morphological results of modified femtolaser refractive autokeratoplasty in patients with keratoconus

Abstract

Aim to evaluate the anatomical and morphological outcomes of modified femtolaser refractive autokeratoplasty in patients with stage II keratoconus. Material and methods. The study included 24 patients diagnosed with stage II keratoconus according to the Amsler Krumeich classification. All patients underwent femtolaser refractive autokeratoplasty (FRAK) according to a modified technique. Results. All operated patients noted an improvement in visual functions on the first day after surgery. The obtained images of optical coherence tomography showed a more uniform posterior profile in the central zone of the cornea, the absence of "folding" of the posterior surface. A characteristic feature of the postoperative period was the change in the depth of the anterior chamber its pronounced decrease was noted with a tendency to a systematic increase. In 2 months after the removal of suture fixation, the depth of the anterior chamber remained stable throughout the follow-up period. The data of confocal microscopy of the central zone of the cornea after 12 months demonstrated the absence of additional (specific) morphological changes in the cornea. The characteristic morphological changes for keratoconus remained the same as before the FRAK.