Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To study the corneal healing response after photorefractive corrections for myopia. Methods: 20 eyes of ten patients were treated for myopia (–2 to –8 D). The patients underwent either surface or lamellar excimer laser surgery. Three eyes of three patients with surface treatment also received application of mitomycin C for 2 minutes to control corneal healing up to the sixth month after surgery. Each eye underwent confocal corneal microscopy using a modified confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (Heidelberg retinal tomography II/ Rostock corneal module) before treatment and in various postoperative intervals after the treatment. Images were acquired at various depths of the cornea. Results: Wound–healing differences between the various photorefractive techniques were observed by qualitative observation of the corneal images. In LASIK eyes, microfolds were noted within the flap as well as highly reflective flap interface particles. The subepithelial nerve fiber layer was clearly visible before surgery but was barely visible after surgery. In eyes that underwent surface ablation, the subepithelial nerve plexus regeneration was evident from the 1st month after the surgery. There was increased scattering within the anterior stroma in all eyes with the exception of the eyes that have been exposed to mytomycin C. Conclusions: The modified confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope provides an informative tool for the post–operative cornea wound healing evaluation. Wound–healing differences between the various photorefractive techniques exist and their significance on the post–operative visual performance should be investigated.
Keywords: imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, SLO, ultrasound) • wound healing • refractive surgery