title: Morphologic changes of corneal epithelial flap: ethanol-mediated versus mechanical removal.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate morphologic changes in human corneal epithelial flap removed mechanically or after ethanol application.
  
  
  METHODS
  Epithelial corneal flap was removed after ethanol application (20 eyes) or mechanically (19 eyes). Any changes were studied by transmission electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-nine eyes were enrolled in the study. The following changes were found in the alcohol-applied group: apoptotic cells, membrane-bound blebs with marked dilatation of endoplasmic reticulum, and short intercellular cleavage with approximately one-third of cell length depth. In mechanical debridement, cleavages extended more than half of the cell length by tearing hemidesmosomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alcohol application leads to cell damage in basal epithelial cells but cleavage plane remains smooth. Generally, none of the methods caused trauma to the basement membrane.
authors.affiliation: Poostchi Eye Research Center, Ophthalmology and Pathology Departments, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Asadollah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Katbab
authors.forename: Seyed Mohammad
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Owji
authors.forename: Masoomeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eghtedari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000187:drug effects; D003646:Debridement / Q000379:methods*; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000601:surgery* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D022002:Hemidesmosomes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D049008:Keratectomy, Subepithelial, Laser-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol