Epikeratophakia with commercially prepared tissue for the correction of aphakia in adults

The records of all adult patients at Louisiana State University Eye Center, New Orleans, who underwent epikeratophakia for aphakia with commercially prepared tissue since February 1984 were reviewed. The epikeratophakia lenticule was maintained in 37 (92.5%) of 40 patients; complications required the removal of three tissue lenses. The average refractive error three months after surgery was +0.67 +/- 1.97 diopters; 25 (90%) of 28 patients were within 3 D of emmetropia. At six months, the average refractive error was -0.18 +/- 2.27 D. Fourteen (58%) of 24 patients whose visual acuity was 20/40 or better with spectacles before surgery achieved 20/40 spectacle visual acuity three months after surgery, as did ten (59%) of 17 patients at six months and five (83%) of six patients at 12 months. The results in these recent cases are better than in previously reported series and reaffirm the usefulness of epikeratophakia in the treatment of aphakia.