Aberrant corneal nerve regeneration after PRK.
OBJECTIVE
To report a case of aberrant corneal nerve regeneration after myopic photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).


METHODS
One patient underwent bilateral PRK to correct a refractive error of -5.50 D in each eye. Thirteen months after the original PRK, the left eye underwent an uncomplicated PRK reoperation to correct a regression of -1.00 D. The central corneas were examined by confocal microscopy preoperatively in both eyes, at 1 and 2 years after the original PRK in the right eye, and before and 1 and 2 years after the PRK reoperation in the left eye.


RESULTS
Aberrant anterior stromal nerves with a coiled course and irregular branching pattern were identified 22 micro m deep to the most anterior keratocyte layer at 1 year after the PRK reoperation in the left eye and remained unchanged 2 years after reoperation. No abnormal stromal nerves were identified in the left eye before the reoperation or at any time in the right eye.


CONCLUSIONS
Aberrant regeneration of corneal stromal nerves may occur after myopic PRK reoperation.
D000328:Adult; D003315:Cornea / Q000294:innervation* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D009421:Nervous System Malformations / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy; D011184:Postoperative Period