Photorefractive keratectomy using solid state laser 213 nm and excimer laser 193 nm: a randomized, contralateral, comparative, experimental study.

Purpose: To compare histopathologic changes after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for myopia using either a solid state laser (SSL) at 213 nm or an excimer laser (EL) at 193 nm in an experimental model.

Methods: Forty pigmented rabbits (80 eyes) underwent myopic PRK for the correction of 6 D. Photoablation was randomly assigned, with a solid state laser used in one eye and an EL in the fellow eye.

Epi-LASIK: histological findings of separated epithelial sheets 24 hours after treatment.

Purpose: To report the histological findings of four eyes of three patients who underwent epi-LASIK treatment for the correction of low myopia.

Methods: The epithelial sheets were harvested either immediately after separation (one eye) or were accidentally dislocated and harvested from the operative eyes 24 hours after treatment (three eyes). All sheets underwent optical and transmission electron microscopy.

Conductive keratoplasty: histological study of human corneas.

Purpose: To determine the morphologic changes in human corneas over time following radiofrequency-based conductive keratoplasty (CK) treatment.

Design: Prospective, observational case series.

Methods: In a single-center study six human corneas of six patients with localized peripheral keratoconus underwent CK treatment followed by penetrating keratoplasty.

Epi-LASIK: comparative histological evaluation of mechanical and alcohol-assisted epithelial separation.

To compare the effect of mechanical and alcohol-assisted excision on the histological ultrastructure of epithelial disks from human corneas. Vardinoyiannion Eye Institute of Crete, University of Crete, Medical School, Crete, Greece. Ten eyes of 10 patients were deepithelialized by 1 of 2 two techniques.

Advances in subepithelial excimer refractive surgery techniques: Epi-LASIK.

The reports of an increasing incidence of iatrogenic ectasia, the evolution of wavefront aberrometry, and the suggestion that the laser in situ keratomileusis flap could lead to unpredictable biomechanical corneal changes have renewed interest in surface ablation and have set the stage for the introduction of alternative photorefractive treatment modalities. The theoretical advantage of surface procedures, such as laser epithelial keratomileusis that preserve the epithelial button, stems from the repositioning of the epithelial flap over the laser-ablated corneal surface. This epithelial sheet is thought to act as a natural contact lens that decreases postoperative pain and haze formation.

The PALM Technique: histological findings of masked phototherapeutic keratectomy on rabbit corneas.

Background: To compare the corneal healing response between conventional and phototherapeutic keratectomy through a masking agent, in rabbit corneas.

Methods: 24 adult rabbits underwent phototherapeutic keratectomy. Animals were divided in two groups: 12 received photoablation through a masking agent (PALM gel) and the remaining 12 received conventional phototherapeutic keratectomy of equal depth and served as control.