title: Optical coherence tomography of the effects of stromal hydration on clear corneal incision architecture.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of stromal hydration on clear corneal incision (CCI) architecture immediately after surgery using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, United Kingdom.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clear corneal incisions in adult eyes were examined using a Visante AS-OCT imaging system within 1 hour of surgery. Half the CCIs had stromal hydration with a balanced salt solution and half did not. Incisions were made with a 2.75 mm steel keratome. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured within 90 minutes after surgery. The CCI length and corneal thickness at the CCI site were measured using software built into the AS-OCT system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty CCIs were evaluated. Stromal hydration significantly increased the measured CCI length (P<.05, t test); this was the result of a trend toward increased corneal thickness at the CCI site with hydration (P<.1, t test). The mean CCI length was 1.69 mm +/- 0.27 (SD) (range 1.31 to 2.32 mm) with hydration and 1.51 +/- 0.23 mm (range 1.30 to 1.95 mm) without hydration. The mean IOP was 20.9 +/- 8.18 mm Hg and 15.8 +/- 8.20 mm Hg, respectively. The IOP tended to be higher with hydration (P<.1, t test). Local detachment of Descemet membrane was more likely with stromal hydration (63%) than without (25%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stromal hydration significantly increased CCI length and tended to leave the eye with a higher early postoperative IOP, showing the importance of taking stromal hydration into account when designing similar OCT studies of CCI architecture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, and the Prince Charles Eye Unit, King Edward VII Hospital, Windsor, United Kingdom. drdancalladine@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Calladine
authors.forename: Vaughan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tanner
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D001834:Body Water / Q000378:metabolism*; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008903:Minerals / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; C030660:BSS solution; D004338:Drug Combinations; D008903:Minerals; D012965:Sodium Chloride