The BioMask for treatment of corneal surface irregularities with excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy

Purpose. To assess the characteristics of BioMask as a potential masking ag ent for use with the excimer laser, Method. We addressed ablation rate, smo othness, ease of use, dioptric shift, treatment of standardized irregular t opography, and ability of BioMask to induce dioptric change in vivo. Result s. BioMask ablates at a rate of 0.28 mu m per pulse. The BioMask conforms t o the base curve of a contact lens in the excimer blank, eye bank eye, and rabbit eye with a r(2) of 0.9982, 0.9844, 0.9858, respectively. We are read ily able to create 20 diopters of flattening or steepening (r(2) = 0.9944). Standardized irregular topography generation in the rabbit eye and then re moval with BioMask was successful. The central corneal topography of the ra bbit cornea showed predictable changes with various contact lens base curve s with the BioMask (r(2) = 0.875). Conclusions, BioMask has excellent poten tial as an ablatable mask material in the treatment of superficial corneal scars.