The healing of excimer laser ablated cornea and the effects of corticosteroid.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the wound healing of the cornea following 193 mm excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and the effects of corticosteroid on it.


METHODS
PRK was performed on both eyes of 6 monkeys. Corticosteroid was given to the right eyes, but not to the left ones. At 4 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months, corneal pachymetry was examined and the eyes of one monkey were enucleated and the corneas were stained immunohistochemically for collagen type III, type IV and type VII, fibronectin and laminin.


RESULTS
The expression of collagen type Vii recovered to the normal linear patter at 1 month. With corticosteroid, the deposition of collagen type III and fibronectin was markedly reduced and the pachymetry of central cornea was closer to the expected value.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that corticosteroid help to minimize the postoperative myopic regression and corneal haze after PRK.
Wang
Z
Z
Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou.
Li
S
S
Chen
J
J
Yang
B
B
Zheng
H
H
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D003315:Cornea / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005469:Fluorometholone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006801:Humans; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005353:Fibronectins; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D003094:Collagen; D005469:Fluorometholone