Corneal clarity and function depend on an intact and healthy
corneal endothelium, and surgical procedures of the cornea should not adversely
affect this nonregenerative cell layer,” the study authors said.
The prospective, randomized study included 21 patients with a
mean age of 38 years and myopia or myopic astigmatism. Patients underwent LASIK
with mechanical microkeratome flap creation in one eye and femtosecond laser
flap creation in the fellow eye.
The corneal endothelium was evaluated preoperatively and 3
and 5 years postoperatively.
Study results showed similar endothelial cell densities at 5
years in the groups that underwent microkeratome flap creation and femtosecond
laser flap creation.
Mean endothelial cell loss was 0.8% in the femtosecond flap
group and 0.4% in the mechanical microkeratome group at 5 years; the
between-group difference was statistically insignificant.
Data showed no linear relationship between endothelial cell
loss and contact lens wear, residual bed thickness or preoperative refractive
error, the authors said.
