[Layer by layer - component surgery in corneal transplantation].

Penetrating keratoplasty represented the gold standard in corneal transplantation for more than a century. Recent refinements of surgical technique and instrumentation have allowed for a shift towards the transplantation of selected components of the cornea as opposed to full thickness transplantation. Depending on the lamellar technique chosen, the main advantages of lamellar component surgery over penetrating surgery may include a reduced rate of endothelial failure secondary to immunological rejection and faster visual rehabilitation. This brief review discusses the indications for penetrating and lamellar techniques and compares advantages and disadvantages of these treatment modalities.