Objective: To compare rabbits corneal wound healing by two methods of Keratomileusis.
Design: A comparative experimental study
Animals: 61 eyes of 35 laboratory white rabbits
Procedures: A few drops of 20% ethyl alcohol solution were placed on to the corneal epithelial ring and apedanculated corneal flap (9 mm in diameter and 50 µin thickness) from the cornea was separated and then, replaced back to original position (Lasek).ln PRK group a corneal flap was completely removed. In both groups a bandage of soft contact lens placed and the eyelids were sutured. Five parameters including: Corneal Wound, vascular injection from limbus toward cornea,corneal edema, light transmissibility and routine histopathological examination were used to evaluate and compare the two procedures. Six normal intact corneas were collected as normal group.
Statistical analysis: Kruskal- wallis test.
Results: There were no significant differences between the all studied parameters among three groups after 14th day of surgical interventian. There were no significant differences in 6th post surgical day between LASEK and normal groups for corneal wound healing while there was significant difference between PRK and normal groups (P< 0.05). There were significant differences for transmissible light in 3rd day after surgery between LASEK and PRK groups (P<0.05).
Clinical implications: Objective data and statistical results showed That The LASEK method of corneal splitting may prove superior to the PRK method. J. Fac. Vet. Med. Univ. Tehran.
57, 1: 5-12, 2002.
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