title: Histopathologic comparison of conventional radial keratotomy and minimally invasive radial keratotomy in rabbits.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to compare conventional radial keratotomy (RK) with minimally invasive RK (mini-RK) in terms of achieved incisional depth as well as the histopathologic changes in the rabbit corneal structures. Four conventional RK incisions were performed on the right eye and four mini-RK incisions were performed on the left eye of 12 Island rabbits using a centripetal cutting technique. The corneas were excised 20 days after the procedure and examined by light microscopy. Histopathologic examination showed that the mean achieved incisional depth (73.47%) in conventional RK was consistent with the intended incisional depth (80%). However, the mean achieved incisional depth (47.28%) was far from the intended incisional depth (80%) in eyes receiving mini-RK. The difference between achieved incisional depth of the two surgical techniques was statistically significant (t = 10.70, P < 0.05). Corneal structural changes and epithelial plug formations were less in eyes in mini-RK than in conventional RK. These findings suggested that the refractive results in mini-RK may be less effective than conventional RK. On the other hand, in the mini-RK group, less epithelial plug formation and limited histopathologic structural alterations may have an important role in preventing long-term overcorrection and corneal rupture after ocular trauma demonstrated in conventional RK technique.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Inönü University School of Medicine, Turgut Ozal Medical Center, Malatya, Turkey.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Er
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mizrak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D007646:Keratotomy, Radial / Q000379:methods*; D011817:Rabbits; D012029:Refraction, Ocular