ESCRS - PO1032 - Modeling Of The Corneal Epithelium After Laser Myopia Correction – Experience Of Military Institute Of Medicine (Warsaw, Poland)

Modeling Of The Corneal Epithelium After Laser Myopia Correction – Experience Of Military Institute Of Medicine (Warsaw, Poland)

Published 2025 - 43rd Congress of the ESCRS

Reference: PO1032 | Type: Poster | DOI: 10.82333/tbmk-pp51

Authors: Maciej Władysław Juda 1 , Maciej Bedliński 1 , Joanna Wierzbowska* 1 , Marek Rękas 1

1Ophthalmology Department,Military Institute of Medicine-National Research Institute,Warsaw,Poland

Purpose

To compare changes in corneal epithelial thickness after refractive laser surgery using FemtoLASIK or SMILE (KLEX), or PRK in myopic eyes over a 3-month follow-up period.

Setting

"Department of Ophthalmology, Military Institute of Medicine – National Research Institute (WIM-PIB), Warsaw, Poland."

Methods

The study included 94 myopic eyes of 48 soldiers (95.8% male, 4.2% female) who underwent laser vision correction using the Visumax 500® femtosecond laser and MEL 90® excimer laser. Corneal epithelial thickness in the central, superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal zones was analyzed with AS-OCT (Optovue Inc., Fremont, CA) preoperatively, 1 day (7 day for PRK), 1 month and at 3 months postoperatively.

Results

Statistically significant changes in epithelial thickness after 3 months postoperatively were observed (p<0.05):

  • FemtoLASIK: Increased epithelial thickness in the temporal zone.
  • SMILE (KLEX): Increased epithelial thickness in the central, nasal, and temporal zones.
  • PRK: Increased epithelial thickness in the temporal zone.

 

Conclusions

Laser refractive surgery induces corneal epithelial remodeling, with distinct patterns depending on the surgical technique.
These findings highlight the role of epithelial adaptation in post-surgical healing, though longer follow-up is needed to assess long-term stability.