[Corneal wound healing after hyperopic PRK and LASIK].
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.
Hammer
T
T
Augenklinik und Poliklinik, Martin-Luther-Universität, Halle-Wittenberg. thomas.hammer@medizin.uni-halle.de
Giessler
S
S
Duncker
G I W
GI
Peschke
E
E
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
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions