Stabilization Period for Central Corneal Thickness, Anterior Chamber Depth, and Iridocorneal Angle Parameters After Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty in Keratoconus Patients

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to assess the stabilization of anatomical outcomes of central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior chamber depth (ACD), and iridocorneal angle (ICA) in keratoconus-affected eyes after deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK).
METHODS: Keratoconus patients who underwent DALK surgery at Beyoðlu Eye Training and Research Hospital between January 2013 and May 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with data recorded preoperatively, 1 month postoperatively, and 1, 6, and 12 months post suture removal, including refractive status, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), CCT, ACD, and ICA parameters were included in the study. The CCT, ACD, and ICA parameters were assessed with anterior segment optical coherence tomography.
RESULTS: A total of 42 eyes of 37 patients with a mean age of 30.5±10.5 years were analyzed. The mean preoperative and post-suture removal 12th-month BCVA was 1.41±0.43 logarithm of minimal angle of resolution (logMAR), and 0.34 ± 0.1 logMAR, respectively (p<0.001). The ACD (11%; p<0.001) and ICA (3%; p=0.009) values significantly increased, whereas the CCT (2%; p=0.008) decreased after suture removal. The ICA and CCT values demonstrated stability 1 month after suture removal, and the ACD was stable 6 months after suture removal.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Our study results indicated that the ICA and CCT stabilized 1 month post suture removal and the ACD stabilized 6 months after suture removal. A waiting period of at least 6 months after suture removal is recommended before any post-DALK refractive surgery.