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Updated: Jun 3, 2026
Corneal Epithelial Abrasion with Ocular Burr As a Model for Cornea Wound Healing
Published on: July 10, 2018
Full-thickness corneal "vent incisions": how deep does the epithelium penetrate?
Anne Steiner1, Adam Flug, Tatyana Milman
1Department of Ophthalmology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, Great Neck, NY, USA.
Purpose:
To evaluate epithelial cell penetration produced by full-thickness "vent incisions."
Methods:
Six donor human corneas with intact epithelium were placed on an artificial anterior chamber. Four perforating paracentral vent incisions were made in each cornea using a diamond knife.
Results:
Twenty incisions were analyzed. Of the 20 wounds, 9 (45%) wounds demonstrated introduction of epithelial cells. Of these, 8 (89%) had epithelial cells at the level of the anterior half of the stroma, 3 (33%) had cells at the level of the posterior half of the stroma, and 1 (11%) had cells on the endothelium.
Conclusions:
Full-thickness vent incisions, as performed with Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty, introduced epithelium into the stroma as deep as the endothelium. This may prove a source of epithelial ingrowth.
