PURPOSE: To report the visual outcomes in keratoconus after ipsilateral rotating penetrating autokeratoplasty technique (IRPAK) associated with resection of 0.5 mm of inferior corneal crescent. METHODS: According to a prospective, longitudinal, series of cases, the authors analyzed visual results of six patients with keratoconus, who underwent an IRPAK, by two trepanations superiorly coincident and with a difference of 0.5 mm inferiorly. After resection of this corneal crescent, a 180º rotation of the corneal disc was performed, which was fixed with 24 sutures diametrically opposed. The patients were followed-up for a mean period of 12.6 months. RESULTS: Comparing the data of first postoperative year to those of the preoperative, there were significant improvements in the medians of: far visual acuity (p=0.04) and maximum keratometric value (p=0.04). For the refractive spherical equivalent (p=0.25) and topographic astigmatism (p=0.67), the improvement was not significant. CONCLUSION: IRPAK associated with resection of 0.5 mm of inferior corneal crescent, after the first postoperative year, was effective in improving visual acuity and topographic maximum keratometric value. This technique has the advantages of eliminating the difficulties of obtaining donor corneal tissue and to avoid graft rejection.
Keratoconus; Keratoplasty, penetrating; Treatment outcome; Transplantation, autologous; Visual acuity
