title: Specular microscopy of the corneal endothelium after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate endothelial cell morphology and density after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a noncontact specular microscope to examine the central corneal endothelium of 50 eyes of 50 patients who had PRK for an attempted correction between -2.5 and -17.0 diopters (D) (mean -7.8 D) beginning 18 to 24 hours postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After a follow-up of 11.4 +/- 6.1 months (mean +/- standard deviation), mean endothelial cell density was 2577.6 +/- 402.0 cells/mm2 with rare signs of polymegathism and pleomorphism. Preoperative and untreated fellow eye endothelial cell density values were used as a control. Paired Student's t-test and analysis of variance results were not significant (P > .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Excimer laser PRK did not significantly change cell density and morphology.
authors.affiliation: Chair of Ophthalmology, University of L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Spadea
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dragani
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Blasi
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Mastrofini
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Balestrazzi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002452:Cell Count; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery*; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy