This study compared the abnormal corneal epithelium after laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK) with dystrophic cornea using in vivo using confocal microscopy (IVCM) and examined the effects of the abnormal epithelium on postoperative recovery of uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) and sub-basal nerve plexus regeneration. The UDVA and wound healing were examined in 50 eyes of 2...

AIM To study the results of combined photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) in myopic patients with recalcitrant recurrent corneal erosion. METHODS PRK was performed in 16 eyes with the Visx 20/20 excimer laser at a central 6.0 mm zone, following total epithelial scraping. Subsequently, confluent 3.0 mm zones of PTK were ablated at a depth of 6.0 microns, sur...

PURPOSE To assess the effect of homatropine eye drops on pain after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). METHODS This randomized, double masked, interventional study included 15 patients (30 eyes) who underwent bilateral PRK. After operation, patients received homatropine eye drops, 4 times daily in only one eye (homatropine eye). The level of pain was evaluated using visual analogue scale (VAS...

PURPOSE To compare the outcomes and complications of alcohol-assisted versus mechanical corneal epithelial debridement for photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). METHODS This randomized controlled trial included 1,250 eyes of 625 patients undergoing PRK for correction of myopia and myopic astigmatism. Each patient was randomly assigned to alcohol-assisted or mechanical epithelial removal. RESUL...

AIMS To investigate if the amniotic membrane (AM) promotes epithelial migration while inhibiting stromal remodelling associated with corneal haze after excimer laser keratectomy. METHODS A wound 150 microm in depth and 6.0 mm in diameter was produced in 40 rabbits using an excimer laser. One eye was randomly chosen to be covered by the AM while the other eye served as a control. Epithelial wo...

PURPOSE To assay for the presence of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in human corneal epithelium affected by recurrent erosion compared with that in normal corneal epithelium. METHODS Corneal epithelial debridement samples were obtained from 13 patients with recurrent epithelial erosion. For control specimens, epithelia were obtained from healthy patients undergoing photorefractive keratecto...

PURPOSE We investigated the keratocyte response and stromal remodeling after corneal incision and photorefractive keratectomy to understand the histophysiological and immunohistochemical differences between these two types of surgery. METHODS Corneal incision or photorefractive keratectomy was performed in rabbits or rats. Then we chronologically observed the histological changes and the chan...