title: Photoablative inlay laser in situ keratomileusis (PAI-LASIK) in the rabbit model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the suitability, biocompatibility, and efficacy of a proprietary hydrogel photoablative inlay (PAI) for use during laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).
  
  
  METHODS
  Laboratory study, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight rabbits (1 eye each) underwent the PAI-LASIK procedure; 4 eyes had a disk-shaped inlay and 4, a donut-shaped inlay. Preoperatively, the hydrogel material was ablated with a programmed correction of 5.0 diopters of hyperopia or myopia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The eyes were followed for 1 to 16 months. No eye showed signs of rejection or extrusion of the PAI. There was no significant difference in corneal clarity or the healing rate between eyes with donut-shaped PAIs and those with disk-shaped PAIs. One eye with a donut-shaped PAI had minimal corneal haze. The remaining inlays did not opacify or fracture during ablation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The hydrogel material can be used for the proposed PAI-LASIK procedure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112-2699, USA.
authors.forename: Gholam A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Peyman
authors.forename: Craig F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Beyer
authors.forename: Yanno
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bezerra
authors.forename: Jared M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.forename: Analisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arosemena
authors.forename: Miles H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Friedlander
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kangeler
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roussau
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000601:surgery*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / Q000633:toxicity; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ; D051379:Mice; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D011817:Rabbits; D054140:Refractive Surgical Procedures; D013524:Surgical Flaps
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate