The effect of femtosecond laser lamellar dissection at various depths on corneal endothelium in the recipient bed of the porcine eye.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of femtosecond laser lamellar dissection on corneal endothelium ultrastructure and viability.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Newly enucleated porcine eyes (N = 32) were used. The eyes were divided into four groups and a 7.5-mm diameter corneal lamellar dissection with the same size side cut at various depths was performed using a 60-kHz femtosecond laser with raster and spiral lamellar pattern. The endothelium was examined using scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy with Alizarin red staining.

RESULTS

All four groups showed similar corneal endothelial cell morphology and viability at the center of the endothelium regardless of the lamellar cut pattern (P > .05). In groups 2 and 3, linear dotted endothelial cell damage or folding correlating with the side cut was observed.

CONCLUSION

Using femtosecond lasers for stromal dissection and side cutting was safe for the central endothelium and caused only minimal damage to the peripheral endothelium, regardless of the laser emission pattern.