May 2003
Volume 44, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   May 2003
Recovery of Corneal Innervation After LASEK
W.A. Herrmann; C.P. Lohmann; C. Shah; C. Winkler von Mohrenfels; B. Gabler; V.P. Gabel
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • W.A. Herrmann
    Ophthalmology, University Eye Clinic, Regensburg, Germany
  • C.P. Lohmann
    Ophthalmology, University Eye Clinic, Regensburg, Germany
  • C. Shah
    Ophthalmology, University Eye Clinic, Regensburg, Germany
  • C. Winkler von Mohrenfels
    Ophthalmology, University Eye Clinic, Regensburg, Germany
  • B. Gabler
    Ophthalmology, University Eye Clinic, Regensburg, Germany
  • V.P. Gabel
    Ophthalmology, University Eye Clinic, Regensburg, Germany
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  W.A. Herrmann, None; C.P. Lohmann, None; C. Shah, None; C. Winkler von Mohrenfels, None; B. Gabler, None; V.P. Gabel, None.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science May 2003, Vol.44, 2658. doi:
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      W.A. Herrmann, C.P. Lohmann, C. Shah, C. Winkler von Mohrenfels, B. Gabler, V.P. Gabel; Recovery of Corneal Innervation After LASEK . Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2003;44(13):2658.

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Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: Corneal nerves are damaged during LASEK surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the recovery of corneal sensation and the morphological regeneration of corenal subepithelial nerves after LASEK. Methods: Corneal innervation was evaluated in 140 eyes of 77 patients who had undergone LASEK surgery at various timepoints for up to 490 days before testing. In those patients corneal sensitivity was measured using the Cochet Bonnet esthesiometer (Handaya Co., Japan). In a second group of 15 patients corneal sensitivity was tested preoperatively and 3 days, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 3 month after LASEK surgery. The morphology of subepithelial nerves was assessed with a confocal microscope (Nidek technologies, Germany) preoperatively and at every visit. Results: Corneal sensitivity decreased after surgery and recoverd to average preoperative values within 3 to 5 weeks after LASEK. Confocal microscopy revealed that subepithelial nerve fibres were absent in the center of the corneas for at least 27 days following LASEK surgery. Conclusion: This study indicates that nerve injury caused by LASEK reduces corneal sensitivity for 1 month after LASEK. This time period is much shorter than after LASIK.

Keywords: refractive surgery: other technologies • cornea: clinical science • regeneration 
© 2003, The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc., all rights reserved. Permission to republish any abstract or part of an abstract in any form must be obtained in writing from the ARVO Office prior to publication.
Copyright © 2025 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
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