CORNEAL MARKER FOR RUNNING SUTURES IN PEN ETRATING KERATOPLASTY

Background In penetrating keratoplasty adaptation of wound edges, mode of trephination of both donor and patient cornea and last but not lea st techniques of suture style are the factors determining postoperativ e astigmatism. A new corneal marking device for keratoplasties and epi keratophakias is introduced. This marker helps the surgeon both to cen ter the trephine and to perform a perfect double running torque antito rque suture. Methods The marker has the shape of an 8-bite star. It ca n be stained and printed on the cornea. The cross hair of the marker h as to be right in the optical center. After trephination we fix the gr aft with temporal single sutures. Then we mark the dried cornea, so th at an 8-bite star can be printed on the cornea. Now a first 10-0 runni ng suture is done. The second continuous suture can be set just in bet ween. In our experience it turns out more precisely, if this second ru nning suture is previously marked, too. Results and conclusions After 35 perforating keratoplasties performed with this new marking device t he mean astigmatism was 2.0+/-0.75 dpt (x+/-sx). Only a prospective, r andomized study comparing different suture styles with and without sta r marker can elucidate the definite value of this new surgical instrum ent.