title: Surgical approaches to corneal wound healing.
abstract: New approaches to improving corneal epithelial wound healing include stromal puncture and removal of abnormal basement membrane material by excimer laser ablation (phototherapeutic keratectomy). Non-healing corneal erosions and chemical burns may also benefit from laser excision of the damaged surface to permit more normal epithelial attachments. Reduction of postsurgical astigmatism may be facilitated by adjustable sutures after penetrating keratoplasty or by molding the cornea with the use of a rigid contact lens in the immediate postoperative period.
authors.affiliation: LSU Eye Center, Louisiana State University Medical Center, School of Medicine, New Orleans.
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Kaufman
mesh_terms: D001251:Astigmatism / Q000517:prevention & control; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D008028:Light Coagulation; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014945:Wound Healing