Laser Welding Shows Promise in Pediatric Patients
From the American Academy of Ophthalmology
Investigators evaluated the efficacy of diode laser welding to close corneal wounds in pediatric patients. No standard suturing was used in the seven patients (mean age 8) who had cataract surgery. In the five patients (mean age 10) who had penetrating keratoplasty (PKP), the donor button was sutured onto the recipient, followed by laser welding as an adjunct to the traditional suturing procedure. They say adhesion of the laser-welded tissues was “perfect,” showing no wound leakage and no collateral effects. Postop astigmatism did not change significantly after cataract surgery and shifted moderately three months after PKP. Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, December 2013