Treatment of Keratoconus With PALK Versus PK

Treatment of Keratoconus With Pachymetry Assisted Laser Keratoplasty (PALK) Versus Penetrating Keratoplasty (PK)

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the visual results of patients with keratoconus treated with one of two techniques: penetrating keratoplasty (PK) vs. pachymetry and Excimer laser assisted lamellar keratoplasty (PALK).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of keratoconus grades III or IV in the Amsler Krumeich classification.
• Need of surgical procedure
• No endothelial scar
• Best corrected visual acuity <20/40
• Contact lens intolerance
• Imagenological map pachymetric acquisition over 90% at 9 mm corneal diameter

Exclusion Criteria:

• Contraindication for any of the techniques evaluated.
• Requiring additional surgical procedures.
• Diagnostic of other ectasia that were not primary keratoconus.