Laser-Treated Corneas Found Suitable for Donor Tissue Publish date: Nov 20, 2009 ![]() FRIDAY, Nov. 20 (HealthDay News) -- Laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) are not
likely associated with any significant long-term effect on the corneal endothelium, and may be used as donor tissue, according
to a study published in the November issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology. Sanjay V. Patel, M.D., of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and a colleague studied 29 eyes (16 patients) treated with
LASIK or PRK. A masked investigator analyzed central endothelial photographs which were taken pre-surgery and again nine years
post-surgery. Nine years after LASIK and PRK, the researchers found that endothelial cell density decreased by 5.3 percent, but observed
no changes in coefficient of variation of cell area and percentage of hexagonal cells. They also found that there was no difference
in the mean annual rate of cell loss between LASIK and PRK patients (0.6 percent) and subjects who did not undergo refractive
surgery (0.6 percent). "LASIK and PRK had no long-term effect on the corneal endothelium. Corneas that have undergone LASIK or PRK can be considered
for use as donors for posterior lamellar keratoplasty procedures," the authors write. Copyright © 2009 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved. | Coding Counselor Simple and accurate ICD-9 code search. Start Here Patient Education Print customized patient education handouts. Start Here Surgical Video Center On-demand surgery demos and presentations. Start Here ![]() ![]()
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