Corneal Endothelial Cell Density after Myopic Intra-LASIK and the Effect of AC Gas Bubbles on the Corneal Endothelium

Abstract

To evaluate the endothelial cell density (ECD) change after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) using IntraLase FS30® and the influence of anterior chamber gas bubbles (AC gas bubbles) produced during flap creation on the corneal endothelium during the excimer laser ablation. Myopic LASIK was performed in 436 eyes of 252 patients at Shinagawa LASIK Center. Average age was 32.4±7.05 years. IntraLase FS30® was used for flap creation and Allgretto Wave Eye-Q® 400Hz was used for excimer laser ablation. Preoperative and 3-month postoperative ECD were measured with a noncontact specular microscope (Noncon Robo FA-3509®) and compared. The preoperative and 3-month postoperative ECD changes that developed AC gas bubbles during the flap creation (19 eyes of 18 patients) were also examined. The change of ECD was compared to the group that did not produce AC gas bubbles. The average ECD reduction after LASIK was -15±102 cells/mm2 for AC gas bubbles (-) group (0.51%, p>0.05) and -35±130 cells/mm2 (1.21%, p>0.05) for AC gas bubbles (+) group. There was no significant ECD change in the AC gas bubbles (-) and AC gas bubbles (+) groups, and no significant difference was observed between AC gas bubbles (-) and AC gas bubbles (+) groups. IntraLase FS30® is a safe and effective tool for LASIK operation which does not cause damage to corneal endothelium. Anterior chamber gas bubbles produced during flap creation did not damage corneal endothelial cells and did not interfere with LASIK operations.