title: Effects of LASIK on corneal endothelium using the 15-kHz IntraLase femtosecond laser.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effects of LASIK with the 15-kHz IntraLase femtosecond laser on corneal endothelium.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective, single-center clinical trial, 138 patients (mean age: 32.0 ± 7.1 years [range: 21 to 42 years]) underwent femtosecond LASIK for the correction of myopia -0.75 to -9.00 diopters (D) and cylinder up to 3.25 D. Patients were divided into two groups: contact lens group (n=76) and non-contact lens group (n=62). Pre- and 12-month postoperative specular microscopy of the central corneal endothelium was performed. The integrity of the central endothelium was assessed in terms of endothelial cell density and percentage of hexagonality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the contact lens group, mean endothelial cell density improved significantly from 3401 ± 292 cells/mm(2) to 3587 ± 262 cells/mm(2) (P<.001) with a mean increase of 5.5%. The percentage of hexagonal cells was statistically significantly higher after surgery (32.5 ± 4.0%) compared with preoperative data (31.0 ± 5.1%) (P=.035). No statistically significant differences were noted regarding mean endothelial cell density (P=.126) or hexagonality (P=.56) before and 1 year after femtosecond LASIK in the non-contact lens group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Femtosecond LASIK to correct myopia was safe for the corneal endothelium. Improvement in mean endothelial cell density and percentage of hexagonality was observed in the contact lens group.
authors.affiliation: Refractive Surgery Department, Clinica Oftalmologica Marques de Sotelo, Valencia, Spain. gon.munoz@ono.com
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: César
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Albarrán-Diego
authors.forename: Hani F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Sakla
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ferrer-Blasco
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Javaloy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002452:Cell Count; D003263:Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055954:Corneal Endothelial Cell Loss / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ; D054018:Lasers, Excimer / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012029:Refraction, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult