Comparison of the Different Preservative Methods for Refractive Lenticules following SMILE

ABSTRACT

Purposes: To (i) evaluate various methods for preserving refractive lenticules (RLs) from myopic eyes following small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE), in order to (ii) establish a sound, standard storage RL preservative for clinical uses.

Methods: In this prospective study, we compared freshly excised post-SMILE RLs (control group) with post-SMILE RLs (experimental group). Experimental group RLs were preserved in one of several preservatives: glycerol, allochroic silicagel desiccant, or Optisol. Following preservation in one of these three media, samples were evaluated by light microscopy (LM), and transmission (TEM) and scanning (SEM) electron microscopy on days-1, -3, -7, and -14.

Results: Changes in cellular morphology were observed at all time points. Compared with fresh control-group RLs, there were significant histological changes in RLs preserved in glycerol and allochroic silicagel, but not Optisol. Comparison of the three methods revealed Optisol to be the best, followed by allochroic silica gel desiccant, followed by glycerol. RLs preserved in Optisol maintained the highest degree of viability and integrity. And the RLs viability and collagen density decreased with prolongation of storage time all.

Conclusions: Optisol is a midterm corneal storage medium, which can maintain post-SMILE corneal RLs for 14 days, is a feasible and effective method for tissue storage.

KEYWORDS:

• Refractive surgery
• Small Incision Lenticule Extraction (SMILE)
• Refractive lenticule (RL)
• Scanning electron microscope (SEM)
• Transmission electron microscope (TEM)
• Optisol medium preservation

Disclosure statement

No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Additional information

Funding

The project was supported by the Beijing “215” Program for Training of High-level Talents in the Health System (Project: 2013-2-23).