Method of transplanting a cornea

摘要

A method of transplanting a cornea from a donor to a recipient is disclosed. An undercut is incised within stromal tissue of the donor cornea. Following formation of the undercut, the donor cornea is grafted onto a recipient. The undercut may be formed before or after the cornea is removed from the donor, and is preferably formed by photoaltering the stromal tissue using a laser. A sidecut may also be incised in the donor cornea, thereby forming a corneal flap, prior to grafting. In addition, a corneal section may be excised from the donor cornea using a trephine, a laser, or other appropriate surgical equipment.

主权项

1. A method of transplanting a cornea from a donor to a recipient in preparation for performing a Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis (“LASIK”) procedure, the method comprising:
incising an undercut within stromal tissue of a donor cornea, wherein the donor cornea has an anterior surface, and wherein the undercut is incised posterior to the anterior surface of the donor cornea so that underlying stromal tissue of the donor cornea is disposed posterior to the undercut and overlying stromal tissue of the donor cornea is disposed anterior to the undercut; incising a sidecut in the donor cornea such that the combination of the sidecut and the undercut create a corneal flap having a hinge portion, the underlying stromal tissue connected with the overlying stromal tissue via the hinge portion on one side of the corneal flap, the underlying stromal tissue unconnected with the overlying stromal tissue on a second side of the corneal flap opposing the first side; and grafting the incised donor cornea including the corneal flap onto an eye of a recipient; wherein, after the incised donor cornea is grafted onto the eye of the recipient, the underlying stromal tissue of the donor cornea is located immediately below the undercut and the overlying stromal tissue of the donor cornea is located immediately above the undercut, and lifting of the corneal flap of the donor cornea provides access for performing the LASIK procedure on the underlying stromal tissue of the donor cornea.