Eyeworld

JAN 2013

EyeWorld is the official news magazine of the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.

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56 EW MEETING REPORTER Reporting live from the 2012 Asia Cornea Society meeting, Manila January 2013 Reporting live from the 2012 Asia Cornea Society meeting, Manila Nov. 28, 2012 ACS: "Expanding the Realm of the Possible" The first day of the Asia Cornea SocietyÕs 3rd Biennial Scientific Meeting held in Manila kicked off with a symposium sponsored by the Cornea Society, followed by an opening ceremony in which the ACS bestowed a number of awards, including the Asia Cornea Foundation Medal Lecture and the Asia Cornea Foundation Lecture (Asia). Penetrating keratoplasty "not dead" Editors' note: This Meeting Reporter contains original reporting by the EyeWorld news team from the 2012 Asia Cornea Society meeting in Manila. In any discussion of advanced keratoplasty today, that old standard penetrating keratoplasty (PK) remains a valid option. ÒPK isnÕt dead yet,Ó said Penny Asbell, M.D., New York. It remains indicated for just about any case and, with current refinements in technique and instru- mentation, offers the potential of excellent results with an easier learning curve and without the interface problems of newer modalities. In fact, it is the preferred option in some cases, such as those that involve full-thickness corneal penetration and advanced keratoconus involving a break in the DescemetÕs layer. PKÕs resilience is in fact aided rather than obviated by new technology: Femtosecond laser-assisted keratoplasty and the option to perform post-PK excimer laser ablation have helped optimize outcomes with the procedure. Femto keratoplasty— future or fad? Is the use of the femtosecond laser really the future for keratoplasty, or merely a fad? Anthony J. Aldave, M.D., Los Angeles, contemplated the question. Dr. Aldave enumerated the advantages of femtosecond laser keratoplasty, including greater wound strength and wound configuration with better donor-host interface match. Using the laser also means the possibility of earlier suture removal, which has resulted in significantly better measurements of topographic astigmatism at six months. However, this advantage disappears at one year; apparently, he said, suturing technique remains the main determinant for post-op topographic astigmatism. Still, he said, widespread adoption is limited by the disadvantages: the cost, the risk of intra-op complications including suction loss, and the fact that many patients are not candidates for the procedure owing to anatomic factors. It therefore remains to be seen whether femtosecond laser kerato-

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