Keratophakia with lyophilized cornea lathed at room temperature: new techniques and experimental surgical results.

A modified method of prelathing lyophilized corneal tissue at room temperature for refractive keratoplasty is described. This method allows perfect centration of a lyophilized corneal button on the plastic base and thus more accurate lathing. Keratophakia was performed with lenticules prepared in this fashion on a series of eight cats which were followed for 30 weeks postoperatively. All lenticules were clear ten weeks following surgery and the final optical correction obtained varied +/- 2.5 D from the intended correction.