December 2002
Volume 43, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   December 2002
Recovery Of Corneal Sensitivity To Mechanical And Chemical Stimuli After Lasik Surgery
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • J Gallar
    Instituto de Neurociencias Univ Miguel Hernandez-CSIC San Juan de Alicante Spain
  • MC Acosta
    Instituto de Neurociencias Univ Miguel Hernandez-CSIC San Juan de Alicante Spain
  • J Moilanen
    Department of Ophthalmology University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
  • C Belmonte
    Instituto de Neurociencias Univ Miguel Hernandez-CSIC San Juan de Alicante Spain
  • T Tervo
    Department of Ophthalmology University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships   J. Gallar, None; M.C. Acosta, None; J. Moilanen, None; C. Belmonte, None; T. Tervo, None. Grant Identification: CICYT grants SAF99-0066-C02-02 and SAF99-0066-C02-01
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science December 2002, Vol.43, 2106. doi:
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    • Get Citation

      J Gallar, MC Acosta, J Moilanen, C Belmonte, T Tervo; Recovery Of Corneal Sensitivity To Mechanical And Chemical Stimuli After Lasik Surgery . Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2002;43(13):2106.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: Corneal nerves are damaged during LASIK surgery. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the time course of corneal sensitivity values to mechanical and chemical stimulation following LASIK surgery. Methods: Patients who had undergone LASIK surgery at various times before the experiment were investigated: Group 1, 2 days (n=1). Group 2, 7-9 days (n=2). Group 3, 2-6 months (n=3). Group 4, 2 years (n=6). Seven unoperated patients served as control. Corneal sensitivity was measured using a gas esthesiometer (Belmonte et al., 1999; IOVS, 40, 513-519). Chemical (20-80% CO2 in air) and mechanical (0-200 ml/min) stimuli were applied to the center of the cornea. The intensity and attributes of the evoked sensation were represented at the end of the pulse in a 10-cm, continuous visual analog scale (VAS). Threshold for the sensation was expressed as the first intensity that evoked a VAS value ≷0.5. Results: Mechanical and chemical sensitivity were greatly reduced 2 days after surgery. One week later, threshold sensitivity and response curves to both stimuli were higher than normal. 2-5 months after LASIK, sensitivity curves to both stimuli flattened. After 2 years, sensitivity curves were similar to control. Conclusion: Nerve injury caused by LASIK surgery reduced corneal sensitivity for several months, with a transient hyperalgesic period at the end of the first week presumably due to sprouting and sensitization of injured nerve terminals. Two years after surgery corneal sensitivity had returned to virtually normal values.

Keywords: 548 refractive surgery: LASIK • 442 innervation: sensation 
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