Maintenance of the anterior chamber during penetrating keratoplasty.

A description of the author's (S.G.K.) technique for penetrating keratoplasty is provided. The salient features include corneal removal, storage, and corneal graft cutting procedures of Kaufman and his co-workers. In addition, a specially designed suturing contact lens is described which allows maintenance of the anterior chamber during penetrating keratoplasty. It is suggested that trauma to the all-important cornea endothelium can be minimized by application of this technique, because it significantly reduces the likelihood of endothelial trauma induced by mechanical contact of the endothelium with intraocular recipient structures during suturing.