Outcomes of deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty using the big-bubble technique in various corneal diseases

Component corneal surgery: An update

Several decades ago, penetrating keratoplasty was a challenge to corneal surgeons. Constant effort by the corneal surgeon to improve the outcomes as well as utilization of the available resources has led to a revolutionary change in the field of keratoplasty. All these efforts have led to the evolution of techniques that allow a corneal surgeon to disease-specific transplant of individual layers of corneal “so-called component corneal surgery” depending on the layer of cornea affected. This has led to an improvement in corneal graft survival as well as a better utilization of corneal tissues. This article reviews the currently available literature on component corneal surgeries and provides an update on the available techniques.

Customised component corneal transplantation: a blessing for three patients

The existing acute shortage of good quality donor corneas in a developing country like India, prompted us to attempt customised component corneal transplantation. Using this surgical strategy, one corneoscleral button was used for three recipients. Anterior and posterior lamellar discs were used for anterior lamellar keratoplasty and Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty in patients with superficial corneal scar and pseudophakic bullous keratopathy, respectively. From the remnant peripheral corneoscleral rim, a patch graft was taken and used for a case of perforated corneal ulcer. Postoperatively, the two earlier mentioned cases achieved visual acuities of 20/30 and 20/60, respectively, whereas the latter mentioned patient with the patch graft achieved good tectonic stability. This case report highlights the optimal utilisation of a corneoscleral button by customising it for three recipients. Moreover, a patch graft has been introduced in the armamentarium of customised component corneal transplantation for the first time.