Corneal Re-innervation Following Refractive Surgery Treatments

Overview

Journal Neural Regen Res

Date 2019 Jan 12

PMID 30632489

Citations 17

Authors

Francisco Bandeira

Nur Zahira Yusoff

Gary Hin-Fai Yam

Jodhbir Singh Mehta

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Laser refractive surgery is one of the most performed surgical procedures in the world. Although regarded safe and efficient, it has side effects. All of the laser based refractive surgical procedures invoke corneal nerve injury to some degree. The impact of this denervation can range from mild discomfort to neurotrophic corneas. Currently, three techniques are widely used for laser vision correction: small incision lenticule extraction, laser-assisted keratomileusis in situ and photorefractive keratotomy. Each of these techniques affects corneal innervation differently and has a different pattern of nerve regeneration. The purpose of this review is to summarize the different underlying mechanisms for corneal nerve injury and compare the different patterns of corneal reinnervation.

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