title: Corneal wound healing in monkeys after repeated excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy.
abstract: Five rhesus monkey eyes underwent repeated argon fluoride (193 nm) excimer laser myopic photorefractive keratectomy 3 months following an initial ablation that had produced mild subepithelial haze. At 3 months all eyes had development of a dense subepithelial opacity and a thickened epithelium (12 cells, 80 microns) with vacuolization of basal cells, fragmented basement membrane, and a layer of subepithelial fibrosis containing activated fibroblasts. By 6 months the opacity was clearing; epithelium was thinner (50 microns); subepithelial fibrosis was more lamellar. By 15 months only mild haze persisted clinically; epithelium was 30 microns thick, with persistent basal vacuolization and focal basement membrane disruption; subepithelial fibrous tissue was more organized. Early repeated excimer laser ablation of the monkey cornea apparently induces vigorous stromal wound healing. Use of shallower ablations, corticosteroids, or a longer delay between ablations may be necessary for repeated laser surgery to be practical clinically.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University, Atlanta, Ga.
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Hanna
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Pouliquen
authors.forename: G O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Waring
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Savoldelli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fantes
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003318:Corneal Opacity / Q000473:pathology; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000473:pathology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005355:Fibrosis; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D009216:Myopia / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D014945:Wound Healing