title: [Corneal wound healing after hyperopic PRK and LASIK].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of different postoperative treatments on the wound healing reaction in the anterior stroma after PRK and in the interface area after LASIK.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-two corneal buttons of refractively treated rabbit eyes underwent different postoperative eyedrop regimens with antibiotics and/or steroids or additional UV-B irradiation. Morphological and immunohistological investigations were performed 6 months postoperatively by light and transmission electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PRK eyes showed interdigitations between the epithelia and the anterior stroma. LASIK-treated eyes showed only minor changes between epithelia and stroma in the incisional region. Only a slight increase in deposits of fibrillar extracellular matrix components were detectable in the interface region.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clinically important problem of haze after PRK is caused by the interdigitations between epithelia and anterior stroma. The delicate wound healing reactions in the interface region in LASIK eyes corresponded to the clinically visible minor changes in these corneas.
authors.affiliation: Augenklinik und Poliklinik, Martin-Luther-Universität, Halle-Wittenberg. thomas.hammer@medizin.uni-halle.de
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hammer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giessler
authors.forename: G I W
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Duncker
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Peschke
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000601:surgery*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006956:Hyperopia; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008853:Microscopy; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy; D011817:Rabbits; D013997:Time Factors; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions