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[Is there a future for the Excimer laser in refractive surgery?].
Y Pouliquen1, K Hanna, G Waring
1Service d'ophtalmologie de l'Hôtel-Dieu, Paris.
Bulletin De L'Academie Nationale De Medecine
|February 1, 1990
Summary
Excimer laser treatment for vision correction shows promise, with some animal corneas healing well. However, subepithelial scarring can cause haze, impacting long-term clarity in a significant percentage of treated eyes.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Laser Physics
Context:
- Refractive surgery aims to correct vision by altering corneal power.
- Excimer laser technology offers a non-contact alternative to traditional surgical methods.
- Millions could benefit from laser vision correction, potentially eliminating the need for glasses.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the biological effects and corneal healing following excimer laser photoablation for myopic keratomileusis in animal models.
- To assess the efficacy and safety of argon fluoride excimer laser (193 nm) for refractive correction.
Summary:
- Anterior myopic keratomileusis was performed on rabbits and monkeys using an argon fluoride excimer laser.
- Histological analysis up to 20 months revealed that 60% of rabbit corneas and 40% of monkey corneas remained clear.
- Haze formation due to subepithelial scarring and basal lamina disruption was observed in some treated corneas, with interspecies differences noted.
Impact:
- Excimer laser photoablation demonstrates potential for refractive correction but carries risks of corneal haze and scarring.
- Understanding corneal healing mechanisms is crucial for optimizing laser vision correction procedures.
- Further research is needed to clarify species-specific responses and improve long-term outcomes.