We studied the healing course and histologic change of ablated rabbit cornea following excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy using three different corneal wound healing methods; pressure patch, T-lens, collagen shield. Nine rabbits(18 eyes) were divided into three different groups according to its treatment method. Corneal status including the corneal haze, conjunctival injection, discharge amount at postoperative 1st day, 2nd day and 3rd day were the same, irrespective to the treatment method and corneal wound healing rate show no significant differentces in all the groups. The histologic feature revealed irregular epithelial hyperplasia and keratacyte infiltration in the superficial stromal layer on postoperative 3rd day and 7th day. These reactions lessened at postoperative 1 month. The cornea treated with pressure patch group revealed more severe tissue reaction when compared with the other groups, T-lens and collagen shield. These results suggest that the corneal wounds produced by excimer laser can be managed by T-lens as an another alternative method of wound treatment.
Collagen* ; Cornea* ; Hyperplasia ; Lasers, Excimer* ; Photorefractive Keratectomy* ; Wound Healing* ; Wounds and Injuries*