Abstract:AIM:To investigate the effect of lamellar keratoplasty with long-term cryopreserved corneal materials for the treatment of Terrien’s marginal corneal degeneration.·METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with thin edges of the corneas which were almost perforated or already perforated underwent the lamellar keratoplasty with long-term cryopreserved corneal materials. The postoperative visual acuity, intraocular pressure, the graft healing and the complications were observed. The period of follow-up was 2 years.·RESULTS: The marginal corneal lesions were not developed postoperatively. The postoperative visual acuities after 1 week were almost the same as that of preoperative, 1.0 in 11 cases, 0.6 to 0.8 in 6 cases, 0.3 to 0.5 in 8 cases, 0.05 to 0.25 in 2 cases. The complications such as transient high intraocular pressure, anterior chamber reaction, the not round pupil could be found in patients with preoperative corneal perforation. The postoperative graft rejection occurred in only 3 cases in 2 years.·CONCLUSION: The long-term cryopreserved corneal materials can be used for lamellar keratoplasty for the treatment of Terrien’s marginal corneal degeneration. Being the alternatives of fresh corneas, without source restriction and timing limitation, they are the ideal materials for the treatment of Terrien’s marginal corneal degeneration.
