Laser in situ keratomileusis flap margin: Wound healing and complications imaged by in vivo confocal microscopy

Minna H. Vesaluoma, W. Matthew Petroll, Juan J. Pérez-Santonja, Tuuli U. Valle, Jorge L. Alió, Timo M T Tervo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

63 Scopus citations

Abstract

PURPOSE: To examine the healing response of laser in situ keratomileusis flap margin in vivo. METHODS: Forty-three eyes of 43 patients who had undergone myopic (n = 39) or hyperopic (n = 4) laser in situ keratomileusis were examined once after surgery. The flap margin was imaged by in vivo confocal microscopy at various depths, and the wound healing response, flap alignment, and complications were evaluated. Ten eyes were examined on day 3 postoperatively, 13 eyes at 1 to 2 weeks, 10 eyes at 1 to 2 months, five eyes at 3 months, and five eyes at 6 months or later. RESULTS: At 3 days after laser in situ keratomileusis, the surface epithelium and basal epithelium appeared normal. Keratocyte activation was strongest at 1 to 2 weeks and 1 to 2 months, and an increased amount of haze was observed correspondingly. Intrastromal epithelial cells forming a plug could occasionally be perceived in the wound gape. Wound constriction was completed in most cases by 3 to 6 months or later. Good alignment was observed in 12 of 43 flaps (27.9%) and moderate and poor alignment in 17 of 43 flaps (39.5%) and 13 of 43 flaps (30.2%), respectively. Poor alignment was not associated with lamellar epithelial ingrowth. Epithelial ingrowth was associated with dense haze at the interface. Diffuse lamellar keratitis was imaged in two corneas after hyperopic laser in situ keratomileusis. CONCLUSIONS: The laser in situ keratomileusis incision wound at the flap margin appears to heal after the sequence observed in incisional wounds in nonhuman primates. Complications, such as lamellar epithelial in growth and diffuse lamellar keratitis, were often observed, particularly after hyperopic laser in situ keratomileusis. Copyright (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)564-573
Number of pages10
JournalAmerican journal of ophthalmology
Volume130
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 2000

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ophthalmology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Laser in situ keratomileusis flap margin: Wound healing and complications imaged by in vivo confocal microscopy'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this