Objective: To compare two different surgical techniques of intracorneal lens implantation. To determine the incidence of corneal and lens complications in two groups of rabbits subjected to such surgery.
Method: The first group (7 rabbits) initially had a keratectomy performed with the microkeratome following which the corneal flap was sutured to the stromal layer. In the second group (7 rabbits), a pocket-shaped stromal dissection was performed manually. Both groups of rabbits had a secondary lens implantation in the corneal inlay. The follow up period was of 2 months duration.
Results: The incidence of corneal edema in the first month was higher in group 1 (71.4%) than in group 2 (14.3%) (p = 0.0155); during the second month, the incidence was 42.9% in group 1 and 28.6% in group 2 (p= 0.2927). Flap dislocation and retraction of the flap was seen in 4 of the 7 rabbits in group 1, whereas no complication of this type was observed in the manual pocket group (group 2). The incidence of lens subluxation was 28.6% in group 1 and 0% in group 2. Finally, there was a 71.4% (5/7) loss of the intracorneal lens in the rabbits treated with the microkeratome (group 1) while only 1 of 7 rabbits (14.3%) lost the lens in group 2 (P = 0.0155).
Discussion: Eyes in which the corneal pocket shape was made by manual stromal dissection had a higher stability of the lens and less post-operative corneal complications.