ROTATING BRUSH FOR FAST REMOVAL OF CORNEAL EPITHELIUM

BACKGROUND: A simple new device is proposed for safe and very fast epi thelial removal of the cornea. This is a rotating plastic brush that r emoves the corneal epithelium within a few seconds under irrigation, w ithout causing any mechanical damage to the stromal surface. METHODS: Comparative SEM and TEM studies on rabbit corneas were carried out fol lowing epithelial removal by rotating brush and by a Beaver knife blad e. Epithelial removal time and reepithelialization time after photoref ractive keratectomy were evaluated in a series of 40 human sighted eye s treated with the brush. RESULTS: The rotating brush-abraded surface was smoother compared to the blade-abraded one. Additionally, the brus h provoked no damage to the basal lamina of the rabbit corneal epithel ium. In human photorefractive keratectomy, the mean time needed for re moval of the corneal epithelium by the rotating brush was only 3 sec ( range, 2-5 sec). Reepithelialization time following photorefractive ke ratectomy did not exceed 3 days. CONCLUSION: Experimental and prelimin ary clinical studies suggest that the new rotating plastic brush is a safe and fast method for removing the corneal epithelium.