European Journal of Anatomy

Official Journal of The Spanish Society of Anatomy
Cover Volume 7 - Number 2
Eur J Anat, 7 (2): 69-74 (2003)

Corneal morphometry prior to and five years after corneal stromal photoablation: The possible role of topical anesthesia on postablative corneal morphometry

Sanchis Gimeno J.A., Asensio I., Lleo-Perez A., Alonso L., Rahhal S.M., Palanca Sanfrancisco J.M., Martinez Soriano F.

Dept. of Anat. and Human Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Spain; Rahhal Opthalmology Clinic, Valencia, Spain; Department of Anesthesiology, Arnau de Vilanova Hospital, Valencia, Spain; Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Spain; Dpto. Anatomia y Embriologia Humana, Facultad de Medicina de Valencia, Av/ Blasco Ibáñez, 17, E-46010 Valencia, Spain

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to investigate central corneal thickness values prior to and five years after ablation of the central cornea using 193 nm UV radiation. Thirty eight eyes of 38 subjects were analysed in a prospective study. Central corneal thickness measurements were carried out prior to and 60 months after corneal stromal photoablation under a 160 ?m flap with the Summit Excimed SVS plus excimer laser (Summit Technology, Inc. Walthan, MA). Mean intended ablation depth was 55±20 ?m. Central corneal thickness measurements were carried out with the DGH 2000 AP ultrasonic pachymeter (DGH Technology, Inc., San Diego, USA). Consecutive central corneal thickness readings were made until three consecutive measurements were within 5 mm of each other. The mean of these three consecutive readings was used as the value of central corneal thickness in this study. Preoperative mean central corneal thickness was 556±55 ?m; five years later it was 513.41 ?m (p<0.001). The difference between the "theoretical" postablative corneal thickness values and the "real" corneal thickness values observed 60 months after stromal photoablation was also significant (p<0.001). Five years after central corneal stromal photoablation using 193 nm UV radiation there was a disparity between the programmed postoperative residual corneal thickness and the corneal thickness obtained by ultrasound pachymetry. Further research is neccesary in order to identify possible unexpected values of corneal thickness after a paracentral corneal stromal photoablation has been carried out.

Keywords: anesthetic agent, oxybuprocaine, adult, aged, article, biometry, clinical article, cornea, cornea stroma, cornea stroma photoablation, cornea thickness, device, drug effect, excimer laser, female, human, laser surgery, male, morphometrics, pachymetry, postoperative period, preoperative evaluation, topical anesthesia, ultrasound, ultrasound pachymetry, ultraviolet radiation

European Journal of anatomy
ISSN 2340-311X (Online)