HISTOLOGICAL AND ULTRASTRUCTURAL-STUDY OF CORNEAL TUNNEL INCISIONS USING DIAMOND AND STEEL KERATOMES

Purpose: io study the morphology oi corneal tunnel incisions using dia mond and steel keratomes. Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Univer sity of Giessen, Germany. Methods: Corneal tunnel incisions were perfo rmed in six human cadaver eyes using three types of diamond keratomes and a steel keratome. The incision profile and morphology were evaluat ed and compared using light and scanning electron microscopy. Results: The steel keratome caused more disruption of corneal stromal tissue, while the diamond keratomes produced a more regular, smoother incision . The dissecting incision resulted ina smoother surface of cut stromal tissue than the stab incision. Conclusions: The high quality of corne al tunnel incisions produced with diamond keratomes is the result of t heir exceptional sharpness, which may have a beneficial effect on woun d healing.