Abstract
Purpose: To estimate the theoretical corneal refractive error induced by mechanical weakening effects from posterior lamellar keratoplasty (PLKP) in the human cornea. Methods: The refractive effects of PLKP are simulated by finite-element modeling (FEM) as a mathematical function of the thickness of the excised posterior lamellar corneal button, with a nonlinear formulation of stress-strain relation for the corneal material. A theoretical nomogram was developed to correlate the refractive changes to button thickness. Results: The predicted refractive change after PLKP is less than 1 dpt for a 170-μm thickness posterior corneal button over a broad range of Young's modulus. Thicker buttons result in greater surgically induced refractive errors. Conclusions: According to FEM analysis, the excision of a posterior lamellar button of less than 170 μm thickness produces a minimal predicted refractive change (<1 dpt) in the cornea after PLKP.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 329-334 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Ophthalmic Research |
Volume | 38 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 2006 |
Keywords
- Posterior lamellar keratoplasty, mathematical modeling
- Refractive error
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ophthalmology
- Sensory Systems
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience