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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Surgical procedures performed after refractive surgery.

BACKGROUND: Refractive surgical procedures have been performed for over one decade. The complications that cause visual disability are abnormalities in wound healing, residual ametropia, and/or severe irregular astigmatism. Many of these complications can be manifested clinically in terms of visually disabling problems (loss of best-corrected vision, glare, monocular diplopia, etc). Some of these complications require additional standard ophthalmic or refractive surgical procedures to restore vision. However, since these secondary procedures have been performed in only a few cases, we known little about their outcome. METHODS: We report the histopathologic analysis of 132 cases that have undergone a secondary surgical procedure following a primary keratorefractive procedure. We attempt to correlate the problems encountered with such secondary intervention with histopathologic information obtained from specimens that have been submitted to our pathology laboratory and that had undergone secondary surgical procedures. RESULTS: Many specimens displayed abnormalities in wound healing associated with visual difficulties such as loss of best corrected acuity, glare, and under- and overcorrection. A short time from the initial procedure to the time of secondary intervention was common. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of a secondary surgical or keratorefractive procedure can produce unpredictable refractive results. Judicious application of a refractive procedure and an appropriate time period before a second procedure is performed may reduce unexpected refractive complications.

Adult↗

Molecular cell biology for the refractive corneal surgeon: programmed cell death and wound healing.

BACKGROUND: Variability of outcome following refractive surgical procedures is affected by corneal wound healing. Interactions between the corneal epithelium and stromal keratocytes affect both stromal remodeling and healing of the epithelium. These processes contribute to regression of initial effect, surface irregularity, and stromal scarring that occur following excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). I review recent discoveries related to stromal-epithelial molecular interactions that provide insights into the cellular responses to refractive surgical procedures. RESULTS: Injury to the corneal epithelium stimulates programmed cell death (apoptosis) of the underlying anterior stromal keratocytes. I hypothesize that apoptosis of the keratocytes occurring immediately after epithelial injury associated with refractive surgical procedures initiates the subsequent wound healing response. Activated keratocytes subsequently repopulate the anterior corneal stroma where they produce collagen and other components associated with stromal remodeling. In addition, secretion of hepatocyte growth factor and keratinocyte growth factor by keratocytes increases after corneal epithelial wounding and these growth factors stimulate proliferation and inhibit differentiation of epithelial cells, effects which could promote epithelial hyperplasia associated with regression after photorefractive keratectomy. CONCLUSION: Corneal stromal-epithelial interactions help explain the different results that occur following excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy and laser in situ keratomileusis.

Animals↗

Refractive outcome of radial keratotomy: does the result of the first eye predict outcome in the second eye?

PURPOSE: To present a method of quantifying variability in the outcome of a refractive surgical procedure using the SD of the difference between achieved and expected refractive changes. We used this method to determine whether the refractive outcome of radial keratotomy in a first eye is predictive of outcome in the second eye. METHODS: We retrospectively identified patients who underwent eight-incision radial keratotomy in the first eye from February 1993 through April 1994, with follow-up refraction 2.5 to 5 months postoperatively. This group consisted of 129 eyes of 81 patients. Thirty-nine patients had bilateral surgery with appropriate follow-up. Achieved refractive change was analyzed by multivariate linear and nonlinear regression to yield an expected refractive change for each eye based on patient age and optical zone size. RESULTS: Residuals, defined as the difference between the achieved and expected refractive change, were normally distributed. The SD of the residuals was 0.68 diopter and was independent of the expected correction. The prediction of second-eye refractive change was not significantly improved by incorporating the residual from the first eye into the regression prediction. CONCLUSIONS: The SD of the difference between the achieved and expected refractive change is an appropriate measure of the variability in refractive outcome following a refractive surgical procedure. Surgeons who perform bilateral simultaneous radial keratotomy do not sacrifice refractive accuracy in the second eye.

Adult↗

Optical problems following refractive surgery.

All of the refractive surgical procedures share the common optical complications of glare and photophobia, undercorrection and overcorrection, regular and irregular astigmatism, loss of best corrected acuity, fluctuation in visual acuity, loss of progression of effect, and monocular diplopia. This review presents the different clinical settings under which these various complications can occur. Many of the complications are associated with technical problems at the time of surgery and abnormalities in the resurfacing of the cornea after surgery. Many of these complications can be corrected by glasses, contact lenses, or repeat refractive surgical procedures.

Adult↗

Photorefractive keratectomy after intrastromal corneal ring segment explantation.

PURPOSE: To describe a case of photorefractive keratectomy after removal of intrastromal corneal ring segments from the cornea. METHODS: During United States Food and Drug Administration Phase III Trials for intrastromal corneal ring segments (ICRS), the implanted segments were removed from the cornea of the right eye of a patient because of dissatisfaction with glare, halos, and fluctuating vision. Ten months after ICRS explantation, the-patient underwent a photorefractive keratectomy procedure to the same eye. RESULTS: One month after removal of the ICRS, the patient's manifest refraction was within +/- 0.50 diopters of his original manifest refraction. Photorefractive keratectomy was planned to the same eye 6 months later. At the first attempt, the epithelium could not be removed with the laser and scrape technique, and residual epithelium was noted at the vertical meridian (12 o'clock) corneal incision site, which had been used for ICRS surgery and explant; therefore, the procedure was aborted. At the second attempt, with a mechanical epithelial brush (AMOILS Epithelial Scrubber; Innova, Inc, Toronto, Canada), the epithelium was removed with ease. After this, photorefractive keratectomy was done without difficulty or complication. At his most recent 8-month postphotorefractive keratectomy examination, the patient had an uncorrected visual acuity of RE: 20/16, with a manifest refraction of -0.75 to 0.75 x 170 degrees, a faint haze at the site of the stromal channel, and a small scar at the incision site on slit-lamp examination. CONCLUSIONS: Intrastromal corneal ring segments can be readily removed from the cornea, if required. In this case, the refraction returned to its preoperative state soon after the explant procedure and remained stable over time. Photorefractive keratectomy was performed as a secondary refractive surgical procedure after the removal of ICRS without difficulty or complication. However, removal of the epithelium is probably best accomplished with the use of an epithelial brush, considering the changes in the epithelial adherence in a postsurgical cornea. Further studies are required to establish the safety and efficacy of secondary refractive surgical procedures after ICRS explantation.

Adult↗

Lamellar refractive surgery with scanned intrastromal picosecond and femtosecond laser pulses in animal eyes.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of scanned intrastromal picosecond and femtosecond laser pulses in lamellar refractive surgical procedures. METHODS: Intrastromal corneal photodisruption was performed in fresh porcine and primate cadaver eyes with a solid-state femtosecond laser. Laser pulses were focused 150 to 200 microns below the epithelial surface and scanned in a spiral pattern to create a plane. A flap was made by scanning an arc pattern from the plane of the spiral to the surface of the cornea. Tissue plane separation was graded using a standard scale, while internal surfaces were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. Comparison was made to a picosecond laser system using the same delivery system device. Creation of a stromal lenticule for in situ keratomileusis was also demonstrated and compared with both laser systems. RESULTS: For femtosecond pulses, tissue separation was achieved best with pulse energies from 4 to 8 microJ and spot separations from 10-15 microns. Picosecond pulses accomplished less complete separations with pulse energies of 25 microJ and spot separations from 10 to 20 microns. Surface quality corresponded to dissection results, with high-grade dissections resulting in a smooth surface appearance, versus a more irregular surface for low-grade dissections. Although high-grade dissections could be created with picosecond pulses (with optimal parameters) in ex vivo porcine eyes, only femtosecond parameters produced similar results in ex vivo primate eyes. CONCLUSION: In contrast to previous attempts using picosecond lasers which require additional mechanical dissection, high precision lamellar refractive surgery may be practical with femtosecond laser pulses.

Animals↗

Keratocyte apoptosis after corneal surgery.

PURPOSE: Programmed cell death (apoptosis) is the controlled death of cells that occurs with minimal collateral damage to surrounding cells or tissue during development, homeostasis, and wound healing. The authors hypothesize the keratocyte apoptosis is an initiating factor in the wound-healing response after refractive surgical procedures. To evaluate the effects of different corneal manipulations, keratocyte apoptosis was examined qualitatively and quantitatively after traditional epithelial scrape-photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), transepithelial PRK, removal of a cap of superficial cornea using a microkeratome, production of a flap of superficial cornea with a microkeratome, and laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) compared with unwounded controls in rabbit corneas. METHODS: Refractive surgical procedures or their components were performed in rabbit eyes. Keratocyte apoptosis was monitored using the terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick-end labeling assay to detect DNA fragmentation. Cellular morphologic changes were evaluated by electron microscope examination. RESULTS: Keratocyte apoptosis was noted with each refractive procedure or corneal manipulation and was variable from eye to eye with each procedure. Transepithelial PRK was associated with the lowest levels of central corneal apoptosis, even if the stromal surface was scraped after the procedure. Keratocyte apoptosis is confined to the superficial stroma extending to a depth of approximately 50 microns to 75 microns after epithelial scrape-PRK and transepithelial PRK. Apoptosis was noted in the deeper central corneal keratocytes located anteriorly and posteriorly to the lamellar cut in LASIK. CONCLUSIONS: There are qualitative and quantitative differences in keratocyte apoptosis between LASIK, epithelial scrape-PRK, and transepithelial PRK. Epithelial injury is an important factor modulating keratocyte apoptosis. The level and distribution of keratocyte apoptosis, along with subsequent repopulation by activated stromal keratocytes, are likely to be important determinants of corneal wound healing associated with variability and regression after PRK and LASIK. Transepithelial PRK induces low levels of keratocyte apoptosis, and, therefore, this approach may be useful for treating higher levels of myopia and for retreatment after regression.

Animals↗

Physiologic analysis of corneal healing after epikeratophakia.

The evaluation of epithelial permeability, stromal transparency, and endothelial cell density is essential to determine the resumption of normal function in each corneal physiologic unit after refractive surgical procedures. The authors report the results of a prospective study conducted in 55 consecutive patients undergoing epikeratophakia using prelathed, lyophilized tissue lenses. Epithelial permeability was evaluated by means of fluorophotometry preoperatively and 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, and 52 weeks after epikeratophakia. With few exceptions, Scheimpflug photography also was performed at the same examination times to assess stromal optical density. Endothelial cell counts were performed in each patient preoperatively and between 6 and 12 months postoperatively. The epithelial barrier function resumed normal values within 8 weeks after epikeratophakia. The optical density of both donor lenticule and recipient corneas was initially increased but returned to values comparable with those of unoperated corneas by 12 weeks postoperatively. Endothelial cell density was not affected by epikeratophakia. These results confirm the authors' preliminary observation that epikeratophakia allows a relatively quick recovery of normal corneal functions and should prompt investigators to demonstrate the safety of other refractive surgical procedures in a similar way.

Aged↗

Model for predicting the optical performance of the eye in refractive surgery.

BACKGROUND: Predicting the outcome of refractive surgical procedures is one of the chief goals of the refractive surgeon. Besides perfecting the change required to nullify a refractive error, the optical quality of the postsurgical eye should be maximized. METHODS: A model eye useful for predicting the likely effects on the optical performance of the eye as a result of refractive surgical intervention is presented. The model features aspheric ocular interfaces, a gradient refractive index within the lens, and a uni-index cornea. The dimensions of the model parameters are taken from the literature. Baker's method of ray tracing through aspheric surfaces is used to predict the lateral spherical aberration of the eye for specific pupil sizes. The results for various operational conditions such as number of lens layers and corneal shape were calculated. RESULTS: The model predicts that optimal optical imagery is produced when the corneal profile is represented by a flattening ellipse (shape factor = .65 to .85). Ideally, in refractive surgery involving the cornea, the postoperative corneal contour should conform to this flattening ellipse.

Cornea↗

Refractive surgery in children.

Refractive surgery techniques, especially those using laser ablation, have revolutionized the treatment of refractive errors. The short-term results have been well studied in adults, but long-term outcomes are not known. No good studies exist to tell us whether the pediatric eye responds the same as the adult eye to these techniques, but there is reason to believe that the pediatric eye will have many differences, both short- and long-term based on other similar surgeries adapted for pediatrics. These techniques have great potential to add to our armamentarium of treatments for frustrating problems such as unilateral high myopia with amblyopia, but they should be used with caution. The patients who are the most attractive to refractive surgeons, namely, teenagers with typical myopia who want to discard their spectacles, are the patients with potentially the most to lose from a procedure with unknown long-term results for a condition easily treated with other modalities. Those who need it most, namely infants and children with high anisometropia who cannot tolerate contact lenses or spectacles, are the least cooperative, the most difficult to treat postoperatively, and the least able to afford expensive treatments not covered by insurance, are therefore the least likely to be offered the procedure, or to have a study designed to evaluate their specific needs and concerns. It behooves ophthalmologists interested in pediatrics to carefully discuss and research the possible indications and theoretical concerns of these powerful techniques in pediatric eyes.

Child↗