Long-time follow-up study of the changes of morphology of central corneal after LASIK using an in vivo confocal microscopy / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To morphologically observe the changes of cornea tissue a long period after myopic LASIK with confocal microscopy. Methods 34 patients (68 eyes) from April 1999 to July 2004, who had undertook LASIK in our Hospital, were involved in present study. The confocal microscopy was employed to examine the changes of cornea tissue. The average spherical equivalence was -6.81?2.88D (ranged from -3.0 to -16D). The average age of the patients was 24.17?5.93 (ranged from 18 to 42). The average follow-up time was 39?3 months (ranged from 6 to 73 months). Results The Micro-folds at the Bowman's layer were found in 68 eyes (100%), as well as variously reflectivity particles located at the interface in all eyes examined after operation. The density of high reflective particles did not decrease significantly with time. In the middle stroma, the mean depth of acellular area was 44.01?10.67?m in all 68 eyes (100%). The appearance of morphology of subbasel corneal nerve fiber bundles after operation recovered. Conclusions Morphologic changes were found in central cornea. Acellular area, micro-folds as well as variously reflectivity particles located at the interface in all eyes existed in the central cornea for long time.