Epithelial ion transport in rabbit corneas following myopic keratomileusis

In isolated rabbit corneas that had undergone lamellar keratectomy or myopic keratomileusis, the stimulation of chloride transport by 10(-5) M epinephrine was completely inhibited at 1 week following surgery. At 28 days following surgery, both groups responded to 10(-7) M epinephrine. The response to 10(-5) M amphotericin B was normal both at 1 week and at 28 days following surgery. We conclude that, although the Na-K pump was not affected by the lamellar keratectomy and cryolathing, that either the epithelial beta receptors and/or the cAMP pathway were temporarily inhibited for at least 1 week following surgery. A lamellar keratectomy, therefore, can have an adverse effect on the epithelial transport system of the corneal epithelium even though the epithelium may appear normal clinically.