Limbal-Conjunctival Autograft Transplantation for the Treatment of Primary Pterygium

Pterygium is a common surgical ocular disease which recurs frequently. Various different techniques have been developed for the successful surgical treatment of pterygium and among them, autograft transplantation is known as the best successful surgical method. For the prevention of recurrence, the corneal epithelium must heal before the fibrovascular tissue grows and reaches to limbus. For this, we have believed that limbal transplanta- tion is more suitable than conjunctival transplantation. We had performed limbal-conjunctival autograft trasplata- tion for 52 patients with primary pterygia whose age was under 40 years old,or whose pterygia had involved above 5mm beyond limbus and had shown diffuse subconjunctival fibrovascular tissue. The recurrence rate was 1.9%and therewere no complications and no surgical problems. Therefore,we recommend this surgical technique as a safe and effective method of treating primary pterygia with the risk factors of recurrence.

Comparision of central Corneal Endotherial Cell Density with Peripheral Areas According to Age by Specular Microscopy

We measured corneal endothelial cell density of 100 normal eyes of 50 Korean volunteers on central, superior, inferior, nasal and temporal aspect, respectively. Non-contact specular microscopy were used for measurement. The data thus obteined were analyzed according to the following parameters: age, laterality, sex and location(central vs. peripheral). Corneal endothelial cell density showed gradual decrement with age, but no significant statistically differences with laterality and sex. The results showed a large difference in corneal endothelial cell density depending on the location, although they failed to show statistical significant(P>0.05).

Erbium: YAG Laser Sclerostomy in Rabbits

The present study investigates the effects of the new Erbium:YAG(yttrium aluminum garnet) laser sclerostomy in eight rabbits eyes. The energy was set at 10mJ per pulse with the frequeny of 10Hz, and the total energy for the full thickness sclerostomy procedure was rated at 90 to 150ml. Following the procedure, the mean intraocualar pressure was significantly reduced for up to 7 days, and the histopathological observation at day 7 revealed clearly demarcated wound margins at the resected sites. The sesults suggest that te Erbium:YAG laser sclerostomy may be a good supportive procedures to conventional treatment of glaucoma.

Corneal Endothelial F-actin Changes after Deep Photorefractive Keratectomy(PRK) in Rabbit

Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis(LASIK) theoretically provide less corneal haze and more accurate correction. In the LASIK. however, photo refractive keratectomy(PRK) will be done on the stromal surface exposed after removal of the 130 micrometer thick lenticule. Deep stromal ablation after removal of 130 micrometer thick lenticule may result in endothelial damage. We observed endothelial cytoskeletal changes after deep PRK to evaluate the endothelial safety in rabbit. PRK was performed on the rabbit cornea without removing the epithelium with VISX 20/20 (160mj/cm2/pulse, 5Hz) to correct 6, 9, 12, and 15 diopters of myopia by single or multiple zone. Seven days after ablation, the rabbit was euthanized, corneas excised and endothelial F-actin was stained with NBD-phallacidin to demonstrate any cytoskeletal changes. No F-actin changes were observed in corneas after either single zone, 6 or 9 diopter correction, and multiple zone ablation. However, 12 diopters or higher correction in a single zone resulted in pleomorphism and polymegethism on focal areas. In the LASIK procedure, the endothelium might be damaged and further investigation for the endothelial preservation during the procedure is needed in human.