Epikeratophakia -- the surgical correction of aphakia. Update 1981.

Epikeratophakia grafts used to rehabilitate vision in adult monocular aphakic patients intolerate of contact lens correction or not candidates for IOLs were studied prospectively. Thirty-two patients who entered this study between its inception in February 1980 through February 1981 were followed for at least eight months. Patients with normal visual potential before surgery had average visual acuities with spectacle overcorrection of 20/50 at four months, 20/40 at eight months, and 20/30 at one year. Few long-term complications were seen. Empirical modification of the lathing process has decreased the undercorrection from the 5.5 diopters seen in the early patients to the 1.0 diopter seen in the more recent patients. Problems with predictability are related to the behavior of preserved corneal tissue during the lathing and the healing of these lamellar grafts. This procedure is intended for aphakic patients of whom IOL and contact lens correction is not possible.