Observation of the corneal flap interface with metal particles in a rabbit model.
OBJECTIVE
To observe changes, such as diffuse lamellar keratitis, at the corneal interface when metal particles from microkeratome blades were left in rabbit eyes.


METHODS
Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Dental College, Suidobashi Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.


METHODS
Following the creation of a corneal flap with microkeratome, metal particles from a microkeratome blade were placed at the corneal interface in 14 rabbit eyes. Microscopic and histopathologic changes were compared with those in the control eyes (n = 4), which did not receive any metal particles. Each examination was conducted at 3 days, 2 weeks, and 1 and 3 months postoperatively. The change in the depth of the metal particles was also measured.


RESULTS
Slitlamp examination did not show an inflammatory reaction or corneal opacification in any eye (100%) with metal particles at the flap interfaces. Histopathologic examinations showed no obvious changes at the flap interfaces or around the metal particles in any eye.


CONCLUSIONS
Inflammatory reactions, such as diffuse lamellar keratitis, do not appear to be induced by metal particles from the microkeratome blade itself.
Bissen-Miyajima
Hiroko
H
Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Dental College, Suidobashi Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. bissen@tdc.ac.jp
Minami
Keiichiro
K
Miyake-Kashima
Minori
M
Taira
Yoko
Y
Nakamura
Masatsugu
M
D000818:Animals; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000187:drug effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D007634:Keratitis / Q000209:etiology*; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008670:Metals / Q000633:toxicity*; D011817:Rabbits; D013524:Surgical Flaps
D008670:Metals