Lamellar transplants in keratoconus.

Lamellar keratoplasty was done in 18 eyes with keratoconus in an attempt to obtain a more satisfactory postoperative refractive error than that after penetrating keratoplasty. The refractive error after lamellar keratoplasty was better than that after 7.5-mm penetrating keratoplasties, but the vision was not as good. Because of the poorer vision, lamellar keratoplasty should probably be reserved for those with large eccentric cones and patients who are not good candidates for penetrating transplants.