Abstract
BackgroundFemtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) has proven to be an efficacious, predictable, and safe procedure for the correction of refractive errors. We examined the early tear protein changes of patients undergoing LASIK surgery in order to better understand the mechanisms and proteins related to laser corneal surgery and initial recovery.MethodsCorneal flaps were created with Ziemer FEMTO LDV Z6 I femtosecond laser and stroma was ablated using Wavelight EX500 excimer laser. Tear samples were collected preoperatively as well as 1.5 h and 1 month after LASIK treatment using glass microcapillary tubes. Relative quantification of tear proteins was performed with sequential window acquisition of all theoretical fragment ion spectra mass spectrometry (SWATH-MS).ResultsSWATH-MS revealed that 158 proteins had altered expression levels 1.5 h after the operation. Two-thirds of these proteins, mostly connected to migration and inflammation response, returned to preoperative levels within the first postoperative month. The other proteins, which did not return to baseline levels, included proteins connected to for example epithelial barrier function. We also identified several proteins, which correlated with surgical variables, such as the amount of correction, flap thickness and flap diameter.ConclusionsThe present study showed that an uneventful femtosecond LASIK refractive surgery induced a significant immune cell migration and inflammation-associated changes in tear proteomics profile quickly after the operation, but the expression of most proteins recovered almost completely to the preoperative levels within the first month. The individual proteins identified in our study are potential targets for the follow-up and modification of LASIK-induced biochemical processes.
Highlights
Femtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) has proven to be an efficacious, predictable, and safe procedure for the correction of refractive errors
Our proteomics results indicated that tear fluid, from its part, enhances these biological processes early on, as we could identify a large collection of tear proteins, which had significantly altered expression levels 1.5 h after LASIK surgery
The pathway analyses further confirmed that these initial protein profile changes were connected to increased cell migration of immune cells, inflammatory response as well as concentration of Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is required to fuel the increased energy consumption needed in all phases of the wound healing
Summary
Femtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) has proven to be an efficacious, predictable, and safe procedure for the correction of refractive errors. We examined the early tear protein changes of patients undergoing LASIK surgery in order to better understand the mechanisms and proteins related to laser corneal surgery and initial recovery. Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) is a safe and effective procedure for the correction of refractive errors. It is one of the most frequently used laser eye surgery procedures and the patient satisfaction is generally high [1]. We decided to analyse the early tear protein changes of patients undergoing LASIK surgery in order to better understand the mechanisms and proteins related to laser corneal surgery and initial recovery. Our aim was to study the immediate protein changes caused by surgery and to identify proteins related to normal, early recovery processes after surgery by implementing the sequential window acquisition of all theoretical mass spectra (SWATH-MS) method, which enables the identification and quantification of hundreds of proteins from each individual tear sample
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
