Corneal Sensitivity 10 Years After Epikeratoplasty

Abstract

PURPOSE: To assess corneal sensitivity in patients 10 or more years after epikeratoplasty for myopia, aphakia, hyperopia, and keratoconus. METHODS: A total of 45 eyes of 33 patients (age range at examination 33 to 55 yr) were included in the study. Corneal sensitivity thresholds using an electromagnetic aesthesiometer (Draeger) were measured at various locations on the lenticule and the recipient cornea. Measurements were evaluated regarding the corrective purpose, surgical technique, age, and gender of the patients and the area of measurements. RESULTS: The mean corneal sensitivity threshold in the center of the epikeratoplasty lenticule was significantly lower than on the peripheral recipient cornea (320.0 ± 365.1 ? IO"6 N versus 0.1 ± 0.5 ? 10"5 N). Corneal sensitivity at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions was significantly higher compared to the values at the 6 and 12 o'clock positions on the lenticule. No correlations of these values with age, gender, type, and primary indications for the surgery were observed. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate a relative hypesthesia of the epikeratoplasty lenticule as compared to the peripheral host cornea, even 10 years after surgery. In our patients no clinically significant changes were observed that could be attributed to the reduced sensitivity over this follow-up period. [J Refract Surg 2002;18:731-736]

Properties of Porcine and Recombinant Human Collagen Matrices for Optically Clear Tissue Engineering Applications

“…Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop practical, long-term-storable alternatives to the use of human donor tissue, especially when the risk of disease transmission is taken into account. Furthermore, rejection of donor corneal tissue is quite high, reaching 64% at 5 years after implantation, and innervation is very slow. , The cornea is the main refractive element of the eye, and as such has several key properties and criteria essential for any artificial replacement. These criteria include high optical clarity (high light transmission and low scatter) and appropriate refractive power (controlled curvature and refractive index), adequate biocompatibility, and toughness to withstand surgical procedures and in-use wear and tear. , …”

“…Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop practical, long-term-storable alternatives to the use of human donor tissue, especially when the risk of disease transmission is taken into account. Furthermore, rejection of donor corneal tissue is quite high, reaching 64% at 5 years after implantation, and innervation is very slow 22,23. The cornea is the main refractive element of the eye, and as such has several key properties and criteria essential for any artificial replacement.…”

A Biosynthetic Alternative to Human Donor Tissue for Inducing Corneal Regeneration: 24-Month Follow-Up of a Phase 1 Clinical Study

“…Subbasal epithelial nerves regenerated in 9 of 10 patients receiving implants and increased in density during the first 2 years after surgery. In other studies, nerve regeneration has been reported to be slower, occurring as late as 10 years after lamellar keratoplasty in some patients (24). Corneal nerves, situated in the anterior two-thirds of the stroma, are transected in ALK and PK procedures.…”

Corneal Sensitivity After Ocular Surgery

“…However, only 17.7% of eyes at 10 years had a normal central corneal sensitivity. 104 Epikeratoplasty may also include a centrally-placed keratectomy, but no difference in loss and recovery has been found between those patients with a keratectomy and those without.…”