Changes in corneal biomechanics and posterior corneal surface elevation after FS-LASIK

AIM:To investigate the changes in corneal biomechanics and posterior corneal surface elevation after femtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis(FS-LASIK).METHODS:Totally 197 eyes of 100 patients who underwent the FS-LASIK from April 2022 to November 2022 were included.They were divided into three groups according to the ratio of residual corneal stroma thickness/corneal thickness(RCST/CT):Group I(50%≤RCST/CT<55%,63 eyes of 32 patients),Group II(55%≤RCST/CT<60%,67 eyes of 34 patients),and Group III(RCST/CT≥60%,67 eyes of 34 patients).The intraocular pressure(IOP),corneal compensated IOP(IOPcc),corneal hysteresis(CH)and corneal resistance factor(CRF)were measured immediately,1,and 3mo postoperatively by ocular response analyzer(ORA)and the posterior elevation difference(PED)was measured by Pentacam.RESULTS:After operation,IOP,CH,CRF,and PED were statistically different among the three groups(F=12.99,31.148,23.998,all P<0.0001).There was no statistically significant difference in IOPcc among the three groups(F=0.603,P>0.05).The IOP,IOPcc,CH,and CRF were statistical changed after surgery(F=699.635,104.125,308.474,640.145,all P<0.0001).The PED of Group I was significantly higher than that of Group II(P<0.05),and Group II was significantly higher than that of Group III(P<0.05).The PED value of 3mo after surgery decreased in each group compared with 1mo after surgery,but there was no statistical difference(Group I:t=0.82,P=0.41;Group II:t=0.17,P=0.87;Group III:t=1.35,P=0.18).The correlation analysis of corneal biomechanical parameter changes with PED at 1mo and 3mo after surgery showed thatΔIOP,ΔIOPcc,ΔCH,andΔCRF were not correlated with PED value in three groups(P>0.05).CONCLUSION:The smaller the RCST/CT,the greater effect on corneal biomechanics and posterior surface elevation.There is no correlation between changes in corneal biomechanics and posterior corneal surface elevation in the range of RCST/CT≥50%.

Evaluations of wavefront aberrations and corneal surface regularity in dry eye patients measured with OPD Scan Ⅲ

AIM: To compare the wavefront aberrations and corneal surface regularity between dry eye(DE) patients and normal subjects and assess its diagnostic performance for DE measured with OPD Scan-Ⅲ.METHODS: Fifty right eyes of 50 DE patients and 31 right eyes of normal subjects were included.The examinations for ocular surface including logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution best-corrected distance visual acuity(logMAR BCVA) the ocular surface disease index(OSDI), tear film break-up time(TBUT) and corneal fluorescein staining(CFS).OPD Scan-Ⅲ was used to measure anterior corneal aberrations including total corneal aberrations, high order aberration(HOA), coma, trefoil, spherical aberration(SA), standard deviation of corneal power(SDP), surface regularity index(SRI) and surface asymmetry index(SAI).Statistical analysis were assessed with nonparametric tests and Spearman’s correlations.All parameters were also analyzed for sensitivity, specificity, and receiver operating characteristics(ROC) curves.RESULTS: Wavefront aberrations parameters including total corneal aberrations, HOA, coma, trefoil, and SA in DE group were significantly higher than those in normal group(P<0.001).Corneal surface regularity parameters including SRI and SAI in DE group were significantly higher than both in normal group(P<0.05).All the wavefront aberrations parameters had significant correlations with ocular surface parameters(P<0.05).The logMAR BCVA had positive correlations with SAI and SRI(all P<0.001).CFS scores had positive correlations with SAI and SRI(all P<0.001).All the wavefront aberrations parameters showed good diagnosis sensitivity and specificity, however, the corneal regularity parameters showed only good specificity but poor sensitivity.The cut-off value selected for trefoil in diagnosis DE showed the highest area under the curve(AUC, 0.921) values as compared to the other parameters with sensitivity of 0.955 and specificity of 0.867.CONCLUSION: Wavefront aberrations and corneal surface regularity are increased in DE patients and also correlated with ocular surface parameters.Wavefront aberrations parameters have potential to be indicators to diagnosis and monitor DE.

Scheimpflug imaged corneal changes on anterior and posterior surfaces after collagen cross-linking

AIM:To compare the anterior and posterior corneal parameters before and after collagen cross-linking therapy for keratoconus.METHODS:Collagen cross-linking was performed in31 eyes of 31 keratoconus patients(mean age 30.6±8.9y).Prior to treatment and an average 7mo after therapy,Scheimpflug analysis was performed using Pentacam HR.In addition to corneal thickness assessments,corneal radius,elevation,and aberrometric measurements were performed both on anterior and posterior corneal surfaces.Data obtained before and after surgery were statistically analyzed.RESULTS:In terms of horizontal and vertical corneal radius,and central corneal thickness no deviations were observed an average 7mo after operation.Corneal higher order aberration showed no difference neither on anterior nor on posterior corneal surfaces.During follow-up period,no significant deviation was detected regarding elevation values obtained by measurement in mm units between the 3.0-8.0 mm-zones.CONCLUSION:Corneal stabilization could be observed in terms of anterior and posterior corneal surfaces,elevation and higher order aberration values 7mo after collagen cross-linking therapy for keratoconus.

Cryopreserved limbal lamellar keratoplasty for peripheral corneal and limbal reconstruction

This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes and described the recovery process of cryopreserved limbal lamellar keratoplasty（CLLK） for peripheral corneal and limbal diseases. Thirteen eyes of 12 patients with a mean age of 41±23.9 y were included. The average follow-up was 12.1±5.6 mo. Stable ocular surface was achieved in all eyes at last follow-up. Epithelialization originated from both recipient and graft in 9 eyes. We conclude that CLLK compensates for the shortage of donor corneas and cryopreserved limbal grafts provide epithelialization sources in ocular surface reconstruction.

Unintended changes in ocular biometric parameters during a 6-month follow-up period after FS-LASIK and SMILE

Background:Corneal refractive surgery has become reliable for correcting refractive errors,but it can induce unintended ocular changes that alter refractive outcomes.This study is to evaluate the unintended changes in ocular biometric parameters over a 6-month follow-up period after femtosecond laser-assisted laser in situ keratomileusis(FS-LASIK)and small incision lenticule extraction(SMILE).Methods:156 consecutive myopic patients scheduled for FS-LASIK and SMILE were included in this study.Central corneal thickness(CCT),mean curvature of the corneal posterior surface(K_(pm)),internal anterior chamber depth(IACD)and the length from corneal endothelium to retina(ER)were evaluated before and after surgery over a 6-month period.Results:Both the FS-LASIK and SMILE groups(closely matched at the pre-surgery stage)experienced flatter Kpm,shallower IACD and decreased ER 1 week post-surgery(P<0.01),and these changes were larger in FS-LASIK than in SMILE group.During the 1 week to 6 months follow up period,K_(pm),IACD and ER remained stable unlike CCT which increased significantly(P<0.05),more in the FS-LASIK group.Conclusions:During the follow up,the posterior corneal surface became flatter and shifted posteriorly,the anterior chamber depth and the length from the corneal endothelium to retina decreased significantly compared with the pre-surgery stage.These unintended changes in ocular biometric parameters were greater in patients undergoing FS-LASIK than SMILE.The changes present clear challenges for IOL power calculations and should be considered to avoid affecting the outcome of cataract surgery.