title: Corneal forward shift after excimer laser keratorefractive surgery.
abstract: The excimer laser keratorefractive surgery inevitably compromises structural integrity of the cornea by the surgical tissue subtraction and loss of integrity of Bowman's membrane. Forward shift of the cornea is commonly seen after both photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). Antero-posterior movement of the cornea is evaluated by measuring the posterior corneal elevation with the scanning-slit corneal topography (Orbscan). Eyes with thinner cornea, higher intraocular pressure, and higher myopia requiring greater laser ablation were more predisposed to forward shift of the cornea. After PRK, there was a trend toward progressive forward shift of the cornea, but the progression stabilized 6 months after surgery. Because progressive thinning and expansion of the cornea were not observed during the one-year observation period after PRK, the forward shift of the cornea does not represent true ectasia. Forward shift of both corneal surfaces would add to the tendency toward myopic regression after excimer laser surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tokyo School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazutaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kamiya
authors.forename: Tetsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oshika
mesh_terms: D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D019781:Corneal Topography; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000009:adverse effects*; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D054140:Refractive Surgical Procedures