Y. Burnstein et al., EXPERIMENTAL GLOBE RUPTURE AFTER EXCIMER-LASER PHOTOREFRACTIVE KERATECTOMY, Archives of ophthalmology, 113(8), 1995, pp. 1056-1059
Objective: To assess corneal weakening after photorefractive keratecto
my. Methods: Photorefractive keratectomy was performed in 16 human eye
-bank eyes by means of a 193-nm excimer laser (range, 6 to 54 diopters
[D]). Porcine eyes underwent either photorefractive keratectomy proce
dures (range, 30 to 93 D) with a 5-mm beam diameter or deep 5-mm piano
disc ablations. Intraocular pressure was increased gradually with the
use of nitrogen gas until the globe ruptured. Results: Human eyes wit
h less than 42 D of correction ruptured at the limbus or behind the in
sertions of the extraocular muscles. Two eyes showed initial leakage a
t the 42-D ablation site. Ablations greater than 46 D entered the ante
rior chamber during treatment. One porcine eye ruptured at the ablatio
n site after a 42-D treatment. Other eyes ruptured at the equator with
treatments up to 78 D. Conclusion: Excimer laser photorefractive kera
tectomy does not weaken the cornea after degrees of ablation commonly
used in the clinical setting.