title: Specular microscopy of corneal epithelium after epikeratophakia.
abstract: We studied the characteristics of the corneal epithelium by specular microscopy in 12 eyes of 11 patients, at three, six, and 16 months after epikeratophakia surgery. We found attenuation of cells; irregular shape; decreased density; loss of differentiation into dark and light cells and into small, medium, and large cells; and poor interdigitation between adjacent cells. Corneal hypesthesia noted in these grafts may contribute to the aberrant epithelial characteristics.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002452:Cell Count; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors