Ablation depth may influence recovery of corneal sensitivity

Ablation depth may influence recovery speed of central corneal sensitivity after LASEK, according to a study.

In a prospective case series, Ren Y. Chu, MD, and colleagues in China evaluated 85 eyes of 50 patients preoperatively and 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after undergoing LASEK for the treatment of myopia. Patients were divided into two groups, and the correlation between ablation depth and central corneal sensitivity were evaluated. Patients in the low-moderate myopia group had a spherical equivalent of – 1 D to – 6 D, and patients in the high myopia group had a spherical equivalent of – 6 D to – 16 D, according to the study.

In both groups, the researchers found a significant decrease in central corneal sensitivity at 2 weeks and 1 month postop. Central corneal sensitivity in the low-moderate group returned to preoperative levels at 3 months, and at 6 months in the high myopia group, the researchers reported.

Dr. Chu and colleagues reported that most eyes in the low-moderate myopia group had no corneal haze. At 3 months, 12.96% of eyes in the high myopia group had grade 1 haze and 3.71% had grade 2 haze, which increased to 16.67% and 5.56%, respectively, by 6 months’ follow-up.

The researchers noted that the correlation between postoperative corneal haze and central corneal sensitivity suggests that corneal scarring after LASEK may also influence central corneal sensitivity recovery.

This study was published in the May issue of the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.