Publication
Title
Backscattered light from the cornea before and after LASEK for myopia
Author
Abstract
Purpose To study corneal backscatter changes after laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK) and to search for correlations between the changes in forward and backward corneal light scatter. Setting Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium. Design Prospective interventional case series. Method Corneal backscatter was determined with a commercial Scheimpflug device and purpose-written image-analysis software. The mean backscatter profile and gray value distributions of the images for a 1.0 mm zone around the corneal apex were obtained preoperatively and 6 months after LASEK for myopia. This was compared with forward light scatter (or straylight) using measurements obtained with the compensation comparison method. Results The study enrolled 80 eyes (40 patients; mean age 34.2 years ± 10.4 [SD]). Very strong correlations were found between the backscatter profiles of right eyes and left eyes preoperatively. Hence, only right eyes were used for further calculations. The epithelialBowman peak of the backscatter profile decreased significantly after LASEK (mean decrease −2.2 ± 4.7 grayscale units) (P=.002, paired t test), which corresponded to the ablation of Bowman layer. Significant changes in the gray-value distribution were observed postoperatively, corresponding to the decreases in the epitheliumBowman peak. Forward light scatter decreased significantly after LASEK (mean decrease −0.10 ± 0.13) (P<.001); however, no significant correlation with corneal backscatter was observed. Conclusions The anterior part of the corneal backscatter profile decreased significantly after LASEK. A significant reduction in forward light scatter was also seen, although it was not correlated to backward light scatter.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Journal of cataract and refractive surgery. - Fairfax, Va
Publication
Fairfax, Va : 2011
ISSN
0886-3350
DOI
10.1016/J.JCRS.2011.03.043
Volume/pages
37 :9 (2011) , p. 1648-1654
ISI
000294656500012
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 05.10.2011
Last edited 04.03.2024
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