Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Membranectomy of Retained Host's Descemet's Membrane Postpenetrating Keratoplasty

Abstract

We report the two cases in which femtosecond laser (FSL) technology used to manage visually significant retained host's Descemet's membrane (RHDM) after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP). FSL-assisted descemetorhexis was done first, then membrane removal with intraocular forceps. Both patients had advanced keratoconus and were managed with PKP. In the first patient, FSL descemetorhexis of RHDM was incomplete. It was augmented manually, and then, the removal of the retained membrane was done with an intraocular forceps, whereas, a complete and central 5.5 mm FSL descemetorhexis was created in the second case. Then, it was pulled out with intraocular forceps. Postoperatively, the best-corrected visual acuity was 20/40, with an intraocular pressure (IOP) of 18 mmHg. In the second case, best-corrected visual acuity and IOP were 20/70 and 16 mmHg, respectively. In conclusion, FSL technology can be an alternative to manual or neodymiumdoped yttrium - aluminum garnet membranotomy for the management of RHDM after PKP.

Keywords: Descemets membrane; femtosecond laser; keratoplasty-descemetrorhexis.