Lamellar keratoplasty in the treatment of keratoconus: conectomy.

The first 52 eyes of 48 keratoconus patients treated with conectomy and followed for a period of time ranging from 6 to 48 months are included in this study. An average change in the refractive power of the cornea of 10.3 diopters was found after conectomy. The mode for the best corrected visual acuity was 20/30, and the average corneal astigmatism was 3.00 diopters. Photodiagnosis evaluation, microsurgical techniques and instrumentation monofilament nylon, use of the donor cornea minus the endothelium and improved postoperative refractive techniques have combined to make conectomy a reliable and successful form of treatment in keratoconus patients. Both penetrating keratoplasty and conectomy techniques have proven to be successful in the surgical management of keratoconus, and it is the surgeon's responsibility to determine the appropriate approach for the keratoconus patient. Both of these procedures will continue to be refined as ophthalmic technology and surgical skills improve.