| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4019017 | Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery | 2008 | 6 Pages |
PurposeTo determine the anatomic cleavage planes produced by various epikeratomes in epithelial laser in situ keratomileusis (epi-LASIK).SettingDepartment of Ophthalmology, IIsan Paik Hospital, Goyang, Korea.MethodsSixteen eyes (8 patients) were included in this study. Three epikeratomes, the Moria Epi-K, Centurion SES, and Amadeus II, were used to collect 4 epithelial flaps from 2 patients in the epi-LASIK procedure. Four epithelial flaps from 2 patients were also obtained by laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK). Immunohistochemical staining using monoclonal antibodies against integrin ß1, integrin ß4, laminin 5, and collagen type VII was performed.ResultsImmunohistochemical staining showed expression of integrin ß1 and integrin ß4 in all epithelial flaps. In epi-LASIK, the expression of laminin 5 and collagen type VII had a linear or dotted pattern that differed based on the epikeratome used. In the epithelial flaps obtained using LASEK, the expression of laminin 5 and collagen type VII had a dotted pattern.ConclusionsEach epikeratome yielded reproducible but different cleavage planes of corneal epithelium. The results suggest that further study is needed to elucidate the wound-healing process after epi-LASIK because different cleavage planes produced by different epikeratomes may influence the process.
