Healing velocity of corneal epithelium evaluated by computer. The effect of topical steroid

To objective determine the area of corneal abrasion, a video camera was connected to a slit-lamp. The videosignal was digitized and analyzed by a computer program. The maximal horizontal and vertical diameters were measured as well as the total abraded area. The algorithms of calculating healing velocity of corneal epithelium are discussed, and this system was tested on patients treated for myopia with a 193 nm ArF excimer laser. It was shown that topical steroid application did not impair corneal epithelial healing velocity.