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Stefan D. Trocmé, MD; Kirk A. Mack, COMT; Kuljit S. Gill, MD; Daniel H. Gold, MD; Bernard A. Milstein, MD; William M. Bourne, MD

Arch Ophthalmol. 1996;114(8):925-928.

Abstract
Objective
To investigate changes in the human corneal endothelium after photorefractive keratectomy for treatment of myopia.

Design
Specular microscopy of the central, paracentral, and peripheral zones of the corneas of 14 patients (12 of whom were previous contact lens wearers) was performed preoperatively and at 1, 2,3,6, and 12 months after photorefractive keratectomy. The corneal endothelial cell density, coefficient of variation (CV) of the endothelial cell area, and percentage of hexagonal cells were assessed at each examination.

Results
The central endothelial cell density was increased by 7% during the first 3 postoperative months (P<.05). In contrast, the peripheral cell density declined steadily by 6.9% during the first year (P<.01). The CV of the cell area was decreased in all 3 zones, whereas the percentage of hexagonal cells was increased in the central and paracentral zones (P<.05).

Conclusions
We observed statistically significant changes in the central and peripheral endothelial cell densities and morphological features that could have resulted from photorefractive keratectomy; however, these changes also may have been explained by the discontinuation of contact lens wear. If such changes are contact lens-related, they could mask the effects of laser-induced damage to the central zone of the endothelium.

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, School of Medicine, The University of Texas Medical Branch, (Drs Trocmé, Gill, Gold, and Milstein and Mr Mack) and the Moody Ophthalmic Laser Center, St Mary's Hospital (Drs Trocmé, Gold, and Milstein), Galveston, Tex; and the Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn (Dr Bourne).

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