@article {Steven900, author = {Philipp Steven and Carolin Le Blanc and Eva Lankenau and Marc Krug and Stefan Oelckers and Ludwig M Heindl and Uta Gehlsen and Gereon Huettmann and Claus Cursiefen}, title = {Optimising deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) using intraoperative online optical coherence tomography (iOCT)}, volume = {98}, number = {7}, pages = {900--904}, year = {2014}, doi = {10.1136/bjophthalmol-2013-304585}, publisher = {BMJ Publishing Group Ltd}, abstract = {Background/aims To describe the use of intraoperative online optical coherence tomography (iOCT) for improving deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) surgery. Methods Retrospective case series of 6 eyes of 6 male patients with keratokonus, corneal dystrophy or herpetic stromal scars undergoing DALK were investigated using intraoperative optical coherence tomography and postsurgical image/video analysis. Main outcome measures were: visibility of surgical steps, especially, assessment of placement depth of injection needle, preparation of bare Descemet{\textquoteright}s membrane and drainage of interface fluid. Results iOCT enables real-time visualisation of all surgical steps of DALK procedure in all patients. Placement of air injection needle above Descemet{\textquoteright}s membrane was reliably monitored as was presence of bare Descemet{\textquoteright}s membrane and potential interface fluid. Conclusions iOCT assists with visualisation of injection needle placement and with assessment of bare Descemet{\textquoteright}s membrane as well as interface fluid during the DALK procedure. Overall iOCT may be a helpful device that supports surgeons in all steps of DALK procedure.}, issn = {0007-1161}, URL = {https://bjo.bmj.com/content/98/7/900}, eprint = {https://bjo.bmj.com/content/98/7/900.full.pdf}, journal = {British Journal of Ophthalmology} }