In Vivo Healing Aspects After Smile Surgery
Published 2023 - 41st Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: PP21.07 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/vtx7-x641
Authors: Manuel Ramirez-Fernandez* 1 , Emmanuel Cabrera-Martinez 1 , Everrardo Hernandez-Quintela 2 , Guillermo Dewit-Carter 1
1Cornea,APEC,Mexico City,Mexico, 2Comprehensive Ophthalmology,Willmer eye,Baltimore,United States
Purpose
To evaluate in vivo corneal healing aspects after SMILE surgery by using confocal microscopy and stromal lenticule and
stromal interface accuracy planed vs measured.
Setting
High referral ophthalmology hospital
Methods
Thirty eyes of 15 patients were evaluated before and 1 month after SMILE surgery by using confocal microscopy. Cellular
morphology and surgical interface were studied. Planed stromal lenticule thickness was compared vs measured stromal lenticule
thickness after surgery by comparing the total stromal corneal thickness before vs after surgery. Stromal corneal interface was
evaluated, and depth of this planed interface was compared vs measured post-surgery interface depth.
Results
Sub-epithelial nerve plexus was absent at 1 month after surgery in all evaluated corneas. Multiple reflective particles were
found at the corneal interface, activated keratocytes were found before and after stromal corneal interface depth. There was not
statistically significant difference between mean planed stromal lenticule vs. post-surgery measured (102.3 ± 25.7 vs. 104.2 ± 29.9
µm; p = 0.73). There was not statistically significant difference between mean planed stromal interface depth vs. post-surgical
measured (113.7 ± 8.2 vs. 120.5 ± 17.3 µm; p = 0.058).
Conclusions
Sub epithelial nerve plexus disappear after SMILE surgery, corneal interface showed multiple reflective particles,
lenticule thickness and stromal interface depth are exact