A disposable corneal trephine

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Surgical Technology
• Corneal Surgery

Background:

• Postoperative astigmatism is a common complication following penetrating keratoplasty.
• Achieving precise graft-host apposition is crucial for minimizing refractive errors.
• Current trepanation techniques may lead to irregular corneal margins, impacting visual outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel disposable trephine designed for precise corneal graft preparation.
• To evaluate the trephine's capability in creating straight-sided, round corneal openings.
• To explore the potential of this device in reducing postoperative astigmatism in penetrating keratoplasty.

Main Methods:

• Development of a disposable trephine incorporating a suction ring for corneal stabilization.
• Utilisation of an exceptionally sharp, round blade for clean tissue traversal.
• Application of the trephine in creating recipient corneal trepanations and donor corneal buttons.

Main Results:

• The trephine successfully produced straight-sided, round corneal openings.
• The integrated suction ring provided stable corneal support during the cutting process.
• The device facilitates the creation of a perfectly fitting graft-host interface.

Conclusions:

• The presented disposable trephine offers a promising solution for precise corneal graft preparation.
• This surgical instrument has the potential to significantly reduce postoperative astigmatism in penetrating keratoplasty.
• Further clinical studies are warranted to confirm the long-term efficacy and benefits.