PURPOSE To compare changes in corneal nerve fibers and keratocyte density by confocal microscopy after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and laser epithelial keratomileusis (LASEK). DESIGN Prospective, nonrandomized comparative clinical trial. METHODS Fifty-six eyes of 28 patients who underwent LASIK and 52 eyes of 26 patients who underwent LASEK were included. Confocal microsco...

Not too long ago, the options for treatment of keratoconus were limited to contact lens wear or penetrating keratoplasty. Times have changed, which is reflected in 4 articles in this issue that have some bearing on current investigation and treatment options. One hundred fifty years ago, Dr. John Nottingham provided the first detailed description of keratoconus, with further observations by his...

PURPOSE To evaluate results of two surface excimer laser refractive surgery techniques--photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and butterfly laser epithelial keratomileusis (butterfly LASEK). METHODS A prospective, randomized, double-masked study of 51 patients (102 eyes) who underwent laser refractive surgery. One eye of each patient was randomized to be operated with PRK and the fellow eye with ...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the outcome of phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) treatment of epithelial basement membrane dystrophy (EBMD) patients and to examine clinical and morphologic signs of recurrent dystrophy. DESIGN Cross-sectional, clinic-based study. PARTICIPANTS Fifty-two eyes of 39 patients diagnosed with EBMD who underwent PTK between 2001 and 2008. METHODS Preoperative symptoms, be...

PURPOSE To determine whether corneal epithelial healing differs after the use of topical ciprofloxacin alone, topical ofloxacin alone, or topical ofloxacin with artificial tears in patients having photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). SETTING Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA. METHODS Eighteen patients ...

purpose : to report a case of bilateral dense ring-shaped marginal keratitis after photorefractive keratectomy (prk) case report : a 44-year-old man developed bilateral dense ring-shaped marginal keratitis after prk. the patient had moderate to severe meibomian gland dysfunction preoperatively that was treated incompletely. he was treated with mild topical antibiotics, topical and systemic ster...

PURPOSE To study the effect of mitomycin C (MMC) on the corneal regrowth after laser-assisted sub-epithelial keratectomy (LASEK). METHODS We performed a prospective, controlled, observer-masked study of 64 consecutive eyes scheduled to undergo LASEK to correct their myopia. The patients were divided into two age-matched groups, with group 1 including 32 eyes in which the ablation depth was ≤ ...

BACKGROUND The purpose of this work is to report our experience using loteprednol 0.5% for routine prophylaxis after photorefractive keratectomy in an academic refractive surgery center. MATERIALS AND METHODS Photorefractive keratectomy was performed on 579 eyes from 316 patients in this retrospective chart review of patients treated postoperatively with either fluorometholone 0.1% (273 eyes)...

AIM To assess superficial lamellar keratectomy augmented by excimer laser smoothening with sodium hyaluronate 0.25%, for the management of superficial corneal opacities. METHODS Consecutive procedure performed in 14 eyes (13 patients) with an automated microkeratome and excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) smoothening using sodium hyaluronate 0.25%. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES UCVA, B...