Posters

Effect of laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy with mitomycin C on corneal optical density measured with confocal microscopy

Poster Details

First Author: P.Drake SPAIN

Co Author(s):    P. Canadas   G. Laucirica   A. Rodero   I. Rodriguez-Perez   J. Paz   A. Katsanos     

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To study the changes on corneal optical density with confocal microscopy using the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II in combination with the Rostock Cornea Module (HRTII/RCM) in eyes treated with laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK) with intraoperative mitomycin C (MMC) to correct myopia.

Setting:

Clínica Novovision Madrid, Spain

Methods:

We performed a prospective study of 14 consecutive myopic eyes that underwent surface ablation with the adjuvant use of MMC and a control group of 14 non-treated eyes. Optical density was measured using the images provided by the confocal microscopy (HRTII/RCM) 3 months, 15 months and 3 years after surgery; and compared with controls. For the analysis, we selected the first image under the epithelium in each group and to obtain the mean reflectivity we used the histogram of the Image J software. The values were obtained in a gray scale, between 0 (black) and 255 (white).

Results:

The mean values of optical density for the LASEK group were 81,74±9,7; 78,64±11,73 and 73,56±18,7 for 3 months, 15 months and 3 years respectively, and 61,80±8,21 in controls. We found a statistically higher optical density 3 months after LASEK with MMC compared to controls (p=0,01). On the contrary, no differences were found when comparing the control group and 15 months (p=0,063) and 3 years (p=0,15) post-op.

Conclusions:

Our study suggests that after LASEK with MMC the anterior corneal stroma has higher optical density than controls which can be related to mild and subclinical haze, but seems to return to normal values 15 months post-op and remains stable until 3 years after surgery.

Financial Disclosure:

None