[Scar formation in the cornea after photorefractive keratectomy]

The morphologic correlate of the so-called subepithelial haze after photorefraktive keratectomy (PRK) has not yet been decided. Excimer laser keratectomy 100 microns in depth was performed in an eye that was scheduled for enucleation. Three months after surgery a dense scar was diagnosed with the slit lamp. After enucleation the cornea was investigated by light microscopy. The thickness of the scar was less than 1 micron in most sections with a maximum of 5 microns. This surprising finding explains the predominantly scattering power of the subepithelial haze, which results in a relatively good visual acuity of 20/30 to 20/25 in most clinical cases.