Corneal biomechanical properties after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis and photorefractive keratectomy

Abstract

Background

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) on corneal biomechanical properties.

Methods

We used the ocular response analyzer to measure corneal hysteresis (CH) and corneal resistance factor (CRF) before and after refractive surgery.

Results

In all, 230 eyes underwent LASIK and 115 eyes underwent PRK without mitomycin C (MMC). Both procedures decreased CH and CRF from baseline. When MMC was used after PRK in 20 eyes, it resulted in lower corneal biomechanical properties at 3 months when compared to the other procedures, but all three procedures had similar values at 12 months.

Conclusion

Significant but similar decreases in corneal biomechanical properties after LASIK, PRK without MMC, and PRK with MMC were noted.

Keywords:

• corneal biomechanics
• photorefractive keratectomy
• laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis
• corneal hysteresis
• corneal resistance factor
• mitomycin C

Acknowledgments

Christopher M Bair, BS; Brian H Kirk, BS; Jacob Basilius, BS; Randy C Bowen, MD, MS; and Michael G Taggart, MD, contributed significantly to this work. This study was supported by Research to Prevent Blindness (Department of Ophthalmology), National Institutes of Health (NIH) through grant 8UL1TR000105 and Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (BCS and ESH).

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.