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Keratocyte density after microkeratome LASIK versus femtosecond laser‐assisted LASIK
Author(s) -
CANADAS SUAREZ PILAR,
HERNANDEZVERDEJO JL,
DE BENITO LLOPIS L,
DRAKE P,
TEUS MA
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2012.4443.x
Subject(s) - lasik , microkeratome , medicine , ophthalmology , cornea , stromal cell , keratomileusis , pathology
Purpose to compare the keratocyte density after microkeratome LASIK (MK‐LASIK) and femtosecond‐laser assisted LASIK (FS‐LASIK) Methods We performed a prospective study of myopic patients that underwent MK‐LASIK or FS‐LASIK. We measured keratocyte density 3 and 15 months, and 3‐5 years after the surgery using confocal microscopy Results we included 31 eyes in LASIK (FS‐LASIK) and 30 eyes MK‐LASIK, we detected an initial increase in the keratocyte population of the whole cornea, due to an increase in the stromal bed and mid and posterior stromal layers, followed by a normalisation of those deeper layers, and a decrease of the cell density in the stromal flap and stromal bed 3‐5 years postoperatively. The average cell density throughout the cornea was not decreased compared to controls. Conclusion : we found a reorganization of keratocytes in the cornea up to 5 years after LASIK, with a decrease in the stromal flap and bed, but maintaining normal average cell densities, and with no significant differences between MK and FS‐LASIK.