Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 30, 2026
Impression Cytology of the Lid Wiper Area
Published on: August 9, 2016
[Impression cytology and LASIK]
M M Boira Cabre1, F Duch Mestres, F Tresserra
1Institut Catalá de Retina, Barcelona, España.
Purpose:
To study the ocular surface changes following laser assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).
Methods:
Prospective study of pre and post-LASIK impression cytology in two sites of the conjunctival epithelium of 12 eyes from 6 patients. The samples were studied for changes in cellularity, cell size, nucleus size, nucleus-cytoplasm ratio, number of goblet cells, PAS positivity and number of inflammatory cells.
Results:
All the samples except two, showed pathological changes like a decrease in nuclear size, increase in cytoplasm, change in nucleus-cytoplasm ratio, a significant decrease in goblet cell density and certain degree of squamous metaplasia.
Conclusions:
One month following LASIK we observed histopathologic changes in the perilimbal conjunctiva, mainly a decrease in the number of goblet cells and different grades of squamous metaplasia.
