title: Superficial keratectomy with the 193 nm excimer laser: a reproducible model of corneal surface irregularities.
abstract: Rough corneal surfaces may be smoothed by performing a superficial keratectomy with the 193 nm excimer laser. In order to smooth an irregular surface, a substance must be used during ablation to protect low corneal areas so that high spots are ablated preferentially. A simple, accurate, and reproducible method for modelling various corneal surface irregularities was developed. The technique uses the excimer laser to imprint the patterns of various metallic grids onto the stromal surface. The model was used to facilitate a comparison of three potential smoothing agents: 0.5% tetracaine, 2% hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, and a fluorescein-containing hyaluronate preparation. Preliminary results indicate that tetracaine may be the most efficacious smoothing agent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, S:t Eriks Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Fitzsimmons
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fagerholm
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D065347:Hypromellose Derivatives; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods; D008747:Methylcellulose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011817:Rabbits; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013748:Tetracaine
chemical_list: D013748:Tetracaine; D065347:Hypromellose Derivatives; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D008747:Methylcellulose