Relationship between corneal surface temperature and air flow conditions during refractive laser eye surgery using three different excimer lasers

Abstract

Thermal conditions during photorefractive keratectomy might be an important issue related to the corneal wound healing and long-term outcomes. Authors tried to find out the importance of temperature conditions during the treatment. One eye of 90 patients has been included into the study. Photorefractive keratoctomy was applied with Carl Zeiss MEL 70, MEL 80 and Wavelight Allegretto excimer lasers. EBRO TLC 730 infrared thermometer was used for the measurement of surface temperature of the cornea before epithelial removal, as well as before and after the treatment. Average age of the patients was 25.5 ± 3 yr. Average myopic correction was -3.2 ± 0.8 Dpt. Statistically significant difference was found in temperature change between MEL 80 and the other two types of excimer laser devices. Different air flow conditions of the smoke removal system might have an influence on changes of the corneal temperature during treatment, but the refractive results were not influenced by this issue. Orv. Hetil., 2016, 157(43), 1717-1721.