[Effect of various ablation levels on endothelial density in the enucleated pig eye. Experimental study with the 193 nm Excimer laser].
The effects of deep excimer laser ablations on the corneal endothelial cell count are still unknown.


METHODS
In an in-vitro study the endothelial cell counts of 125 pig corneas were examined after excimer laser ablation. Five groups of 25 eyes reach, one control group and four groups with 3, 10, 20, and 35 D of ablation were examined. After the laser treatment, a corneoscleral disc was prepared and stored for up 5 days in an organ culture medium. The endothelial cell density of 5 corneas in each group was measured in a period of 5 days with a phase contrast microscope.


RESULTS
Significant cell loss, 13-25%, was measured in each group after 5 days. There were no significant differences between the ablated corneas and the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Deep excimer laser ablations do not significantly reduce the endothelial cell count.
Kohlhaas
M
M
Universitäts-Augenklinik Hamburg-Eppendorf.
Carstens
J
J
Richard
G
G
D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology*; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012029:Refraction, Ocular