Evaluation of transcutaneous electrical simulation to improve recovery from corneal hypoesthesia after LASIK.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy, and safety of transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) to accelerate corneal nerve regeneration and improved recovery from corneal hypesthasia after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).


METHODS
Khodadoust Eye Hospital, Shiraz, Fars, Iran


METHODS
This prospective, randomized, clinical study comprised 40 eyes of 20 patients scheduled to undergo bilateral LASIK. In each patient, one eye was randomly assigned to receive transcutaneous electrical stimulation (20 HZ) for 60 minutes, and the other eye allocated as control. Corneal sensitivity was measured using the Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer in four areas outside and five areas inside the LASIK flap preoperatively, and at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively. Best-corrected visual acuity and the incidence of adverse events were noted at each visit.


RESULTS
For all four points outside the LASIK flap, normal corneal sensitivity was maintained throughout the study; no significant difference was found between the study eyes and the control eyes at these points (P > 0.05). All points within the LASIK flap except the point closest to the hinge demonstrated profound corneal hypoesthesia at 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month postoperatively, with no differences noted between the control and study eyes (P > 0.05). After 3 months, points within the flap had statistically significantly better corneal sensitivity in the study group than in the control group (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Transcutaneous electrical stimulation significantly improves corneal sensitivity at 3 months after LASIK. This may be due to accelerated corneal nerve regeneration by electrical stimulation.
Ghaffariyeh
Alireza
A
Khodadoust Eye Hospital, Motahari Avenue, Shiraz, Fars, Iran. alirezaghaffariyeh@hotmail.com
Peyman
Alireza
A
Puyan
Sadollah
S
Honarpisheh
Nazafarin
N
Bagheri
Babak
B
Peyman
Mohammadreza
M
D000328:Adult; D003315:Cornea / Q000294:innervation*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006987:Hypesthesia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000009:adverse effects*; D054018:Lasers, Excimer / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult