[Epikeratoplasty using lyophilized lenticles for the correction if aphakia in adults]

Fifty adult aphakic patients were treated surgically by epikeratoplasty. Forty-one eyes had posttraumatic aphakia including 26 eyes with corneal scars. Results are presented with a mean follow-up of 31 months. 64% of eyes achieved an uncorrected visual acuity of 0.2 or better. Best visual acuity was 0.2 or better in 92% of eyes (this percentage is similar to the preoperative figure) and 0.5 or better in 62%. 78% of eyes had a refraction within 3 diopters of emmetropia. 10% of eyes lost 2 or more lines of best visual acuity. Mean keratometric results and spheric equivalent of the refraction show stability of the procedure during a 2 year follow up period. These results confirm, that in selected patients, epikeratoplasty is a valid surgical alternative for adult aphakia.