Corneal Clarity Measurements in Patients with Myopia Undergoing Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis and Laser-Assisted Sub-Epithelial Keratectomy

Abstract Aim This study aimed to compare the preoperative and postoperative corneal densitometry data of patients undergoing either laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) or laser-assisted sub-epithelial keratectomy (LASEK). Methods This comparative study was performed at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, UK. Preoperative and postoperative corneal densitometry data were collected using Oculus Pentacam. The data were collected at three corneal depths (anterior, central and posterior) and at three corneal annulus ring diameter ranges (0–2 mm, 2–6 mm and 6–10 mm). Postoperative data were collected at 6 weeks and 3 and 6 months after treatment. Results Data was collected from 60 eyes of 16 patients who underwent LASIK and 14 who underwent LASEK only the 30 right eyes reported in the analysis, with mean ages of 37.06 ± 10.0 and 37.7 ± 6.6 years, respectively. A non-statistically significant increase in corneal densitometry values was observed in all concentric zones in all corneal layers at post LASIK treatment (P > 0.0018). A statistically significant increase in densitometry values was observed after LASEK, but only in the central layer at all zones and posterior layers at 2–6 and 6–10 concentric zones (P < 0.0018). Pre- and Post-operative VA did not significantly differ after LASIK but showed a statistically significant difference at 6 weeks after LASEK (P < 0.016). Post-operative VA differed significantly between the groups at 6 weeks (P < 0.01) and 3 months (P = 0.02). Conclusion Corneal wound healing plays an important role in determining corneal transparency and may be responsible for an increase in corneal haze following refractive surgery. Corneal densitometry data obtained using Oculus Pentacam may help assess treatment outcomes after laser refractive surgery.