Pescara Hospital performs first cornea transplant using OCT technology

The Ophthalmology Unit at the Pescara Hospital has successfully performed its first cornea transplant using the DSAEK Ultra Thin technique, supported by intraoperative Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and 3D visualization. The procedure was conducted on an 82-year-old patient by Dr. Alessandro Di Maggio, head of the Corneal Pathology Center, under the direction of Dr. Michele Marullo.

The surgery utilized new 3D microscopes equipped with OCT technology recently acquired by the ASL of Pescara. This specific technique allows surgeons to replace only the diseased layer of the cornea while preserving healthy tissue. In this instance, a graft of only 50 microns was used, with manipulated corneal tissue reaching a thickness of just 15 microns.

The intraoperative OCT provides high-definition, real-time imaging of the corneal layers, allowing surgeons to immediately verify the correct orientation and adhesion of the transplanted tissue. The patient was discharged following a positive functional recovery, with significant improvements in corneal transparency noted within the first 24 hours. This technology is expected to increase precision and reduce the risk of rejection compared to full-thickness transplants.