In vivo laser confocal microscopic analysis of corneal K-structures after keratorefractive surgery (LASIK and epi-LASIK).
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate alterations of corneal K-structures (sub-Bowman's fibrous structures) after keratorefractive surgery by in vivo laser confocal microscopy and to look for association of K-structures with fluorescein-stained anterior corneal mosaic (ACM).


METHODS
Five patients (nine eyes) participated in this study. For four patients, one eye was evaluated after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and the other after epipolis-laser in situ keratomileusis (epi-LASIK). For one patient, the left eye was evaluated after epithelial debridement. A photograph of the ACM was obtained. Central corneal regions were scanned by Heidelberg Retina Tomograph 2 Rostock Cornea Module (Heidelberg Engineering GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany).


RESULTS
The ACM and K-structures disappeared in all corneas after epi-LASIK, but not after LASIK and epithelial debridement cornea.


CONCLUSIONS
The presence of K-structures and ACM may be an index to identify eyes that had a previous refractive surgical procedure (surface ablation or LASIK) and be a health index of Bowman layer and adjacent anterior stroma.
Yokogawa
Hideaki
H
Department of Ophthalmology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Japan.
Kobayashi
Akira
A
Tagawa
Kosaku
K
Sugiyama
Kazuhisa
K
D000328:Adult; D050541:Bowman Membrane / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D021961:Cell Membrane Structures / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy; D054140:Refractive Surgical Procedures; D014792:Visual Acuity; D055815:Young Adult