Hs. Geggel, EFFECT OF PERIPHERAL SUBEPITHELIAL FIBROSIS ON CORNEAL TRANSPLANT TOPOGRAPHY, Journal of cataract and refractive surgery, 22(1), 1996, pp. 135-138
Subepithelial fibrosis in the area of peripheral suture placement is a
n often overlooked phenomenon of healing following uneventful penetrat
ing keratoplasty surgery. Three affected cornea transplant patients wh
ose sutures had been removed were studied using videophotokeratoscopy
before and after stripping of the subepithelial tissue with cellulose
sponges and jeweler's forceps. All three showed relative flattening in
the involved hemimeridian prior to treatment. Removal of the fibrotic
tissue produced relative steepening in the same area. Overall graft a
stigmatism was essentially unchanged following the procedure in each p
atient. However, average central keratometric readings increased appro
ximately 1 to 2 diopters in each patient, demonstrating that these per
ipheral changes have a direct influence on corneal power. The surface
regularity index and surface asymmetry index values improved in two of
the three patients and manifest spectacle visual acuity improved in e
ach patient.