The corneal transplantation (CT) is the most commonly performed type of transplant in the world and the Eye Banks are organizations whose capture, evaluate, preserve, store and distribute ocular tissues. With the evolution of surgical techniques and equipment for CT, the BOs had to evolve to keep up with these requirements. This evolution goes from tissues capture techniques, donating money and clarification to the patient (e.g. internet-based), use of current equipment for more adequate tissues supply for the most current […]

O transplante de córnea (CT) é o tipo de transplante mais realizado no mundo e os Bancos de Olhos (BO) são organizações que capturam, evoluem, preservam, guardam e distribuem tecidos oculares. Com a evolução das técnicas cirúrgicas e equipamentos para o CT, os BOs precisaram evoluir para acompanhar estas necessidades. Esta evolução vai desde técnicas de captura de tecidos; doação de dinheiro e esclarecimento ao paciente (baseadas na internet, por exemplo); utilização de equipamentos modernos, para fornecimento mais adequado de […]

Purpose: To define the epidemiological aspects of the patients submitted to keratoplasty in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil and the main indications for this procedure. Methods: We conducted an observational, descriptive and retrospective study with the data of 1161 patients submitted to cornea transplantation from january 2008 to december 2010, at the Transplantation Center of Santa Catarina. The analyzed data were: age, gender, origin, transplant date, indication and transplanted eye. Results: The mean age was 45.51 years and men […]

Objective: To evaluate the influence of a three-minute application of 0.02% mitomycin C (MMC) on proliferation and differentiation of rabbit corneal epithelial cells. Methods: Topical MMC or 0.9% saline solution was applied to the episclera of the temporal limbal area of both eyes, maintaining intact epithelial tissue in one eye, and after partial corneal deepithelialization in the contralateral eye. The animals were arranged in groups A (20 eyes), B (16 eyes) and C (14 eyes) and sacrificed respectively on the […]

Objective: To compare the influence of two techniques for corneal epithelial removal in photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) – blunt scrape versus rotary brush – regarding duration of technique application, intraoperative comfort, and reepithelization. Methods: This prospective randomized study included 58 eyes of 29 patients that underwent simultaneous and sequential PRK in both eyes – blunt scrape (scraped group) in one eye and rotary brush (brushed group) in the fellow eye. Results: The faster technique, measured in seconds, was the rotary brush […]

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and reliability of a low-energy femtosecond laser with a high repetition rate for construction of deep anterior donor corneal lamellae. Methods: This was a prospective laboratory investigation. Twenty-five human corneal buttons were femtosecond laser cut to create thick anterior lamellae (diameter, 10mm; thickness, 500µm). The laser cuts were made using an LDV® femtosecond laser in a Ziemer® anterior chamber. To obtain a better edge, the lamellae were trephined with an 8mm trephine (Katena®). The central […]

Objetivo: Avaliar a eficácia e segurança de um laser de femtossegundo de baixa energia e alta taxa de repetição para confecção de lamelas corneanas doadoras anteriores profundas. Métodos: Este é um estudo prospectivo de investigação laboratorial. Vinte e cinco botões corneanos foram cortados com laser de femtossegundo para criar lamelas corneanas doadoras anteriores profundas (diâmetro, 10mm; espessura, 500µm). O corte a laser foi realizado com femtosecond laser LDV® na câmara anterior artificial da Ziemer®. Para obter-se uma melhor borda, as […]

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of corneal crosslinking (CXL) in the treatment of infectious keratitis resistant to medical treatment, and investigate the relation with the CXL outcome to the etiologic agent. METHODS: The study included 11 patients who were diagnosed with bacterial (seven eyes) or fungal keratitis (four eyes) at Altino Ventura Foundation from october 2011 to may 2012. All patients were using antibiotic eye drops for at least 7 days and have had no infection improvement. Patients were evaluated […]