Harvesting a lamellar graft from a corneoscleral button: a new technique.

PURPOSE

To describe a new technique for harvesting a lamellar graft from a corneoscleral button in the absence of an artificial anterior chamber.

METHODS

Two layers of sterile fine-weave fabric were wrapped tightly around a glass orbital implant. The corneoscleral button was sutured firmly at its scleral rim onto the fabric. The lamellar graft then was dissected in the regular fashion.

RESULTS

The lamellar graft was successfully obtained. During the dissection, the donor cornea and its supporting fabric-covered glass ball were easily handled, and there was minimal risk of perforation of the posterior lamella of the donor cornea.

CONCLUSION

This simple technique allows a lamellar graft to be easily obtained from a corneoscleral button without specialized and expensive equipment.