Confocal microscopic analysis of astigmatism following penetrating keratoplasty

Objective: To analyze the astigmatic changes in the corneas of rabbits following penetrating keratoplasty(PKP) by using confocal microscopy in vivo. Methods: 6 Dutch-Belted rabbits were performed allograft PKP in two groups. In one group, the grafts and recipients bed margins were created as regular as possible, and sutures were placed as even as possible. In another group, the corneal margins and sutures were of an irregular nature. Following PKP, animals were observed at regular intervals by confocal microscopy. Photographs and digital images of the grafts at the graft host margin and the interface on the corneal tissue by sutures were analyzed. Results: Only a slight scar formed around the wound in the first group, while a large scar was seen in the second group. Sutures removal permitted the stressed tissue to return to a normal orientation. Conclusions: This is the first time to show the impact of the wound healing and the placement of sutures to the astigmatism after PKP in a direct way of images. The confocal microscopic images have been proven to be very useful in the analysis of astigmatic changes and variation after PKP.