Cornea and External Diseases

Epikeratophakia

Epikeratophakia demonstrating a layer of corneal lenticule tissue over the host cornea.
  • Refractive surgical procedure when a lamellar disc from a donor cornea or commercial corneal lenticule is placed over the de-epithelialized host cornea and sutured into a prepared groove on the host cornea
  • Indications include aphakia, myopia and keratoconus
  • The technique is not commonly available due to:
    • Limited supply of human donor lenticule
    • Poorly predictable refractive outcome
    • Most patients require up to 1 year to achieve BCVA
    • Common irregular astigmatism because of possible distortions occurring with shaping and suturing the lenticule