PURPOSE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate sutureless keratoplasty using a chemically-defined bioadhesive (CDB) made from food or medical additives.

METHODS. Sutureless automated lamellar therapeutic keratoplasty (ALTK) using a CDB was performed on three rabbit eyes. Allogenic lamellar graft was transplanted onto the recipient bed using either suture fixation or a sutureless technique using the CDB. Slit-lamp examination was performed at selected intervals to evaluate the grade of epithelialization and the corneal clarity. The rabbits were killed at 90 days after operation and the eyes processed for histology, electron microscopic examination, and immunohistochemistry for cytokeratins and cell junction-related proteins.

RESULTS. Sutureless keratoplasty was successfully performed with appropriate handling time before the CDB gelatinized. All the glued grafts were rapidly epithelialized within 7 days, and thereafter remained clear and attached for 90 days. Histologic and ultrastructural findings on the sutureless group showed the normal feature of stromal and epithelial cells and the grafts to be closely adhered with no inflammatory or scarring changes on the interface. Immunohistochemistry of the epithelial cells on the sutureless group revealed a similar expression pattern to the control group.

CONCLUSIONS. These results demonstrate that sutureless keratoplasty using the CDB is easy to perform, with reliable attachment and no fear of toxic effects or disease transmissions. The authors expect the CDB to become a major choice for corneal treatment, especially in lamellar keratoplasty, posterior keratoplasty, and amniotic membrane transplantation on corneas. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2009; 50: 2679-2685) DOI:10.1167/iovs.08-2944