Histopathology of a case of epikeratophakia (aphakic epikeratoplasty)
P. S. Binder, S. D. Baumgartner and J. A. Fogle
An epikeratoplasty button was removed by penetrating keratoplasty 31 months
following an aphakic epikeratoplasty. The epithelium over the donor cap was
thickened with numerous surface abnormalities. Bends and fractures in the
donor Bowman's membrane were found throughout the length of the specimen. A
significantly decreased number of keratocytes were found in the anterior
half of the donor lenticule; the posterior half of the lenticule was
acellular. The interfibrillar collagen distance of the donor lenticule was
significantly increased compared with that of the recipient host cornea.
The central thickness of the lenticule increased the total corneal
thickness by 56%. Abnormal keratocytes were found in the underlying
recipient corneal stroma. Based on this study, the histopathologic features
of epikeratoplasty appear to be similar to those documented in the other
lamellar refractive surgical procedures of keratophakia and keratomileusis.
