Abstract

BOIRA CABRE, MM; DUCH MESTRES, F  and  TRESSERRA, F. Impression cytology and LASIK. Arch Soc Esp Oftalmol [online]. 2003, vol.78, n.10, pp.555-559. ISSN 0365-6691.

Purpose: To study the ocular surface changes following laser assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). Methods: Prospective study of pre and post-LASIK impression cytology in two sites of the conjunctival epithelium of 12 eyes from 6 patients. The samples were studied for changes in cellularity, cell size, nucleus size, nucleus-cytoplasm ratio, number of goblet cells, PAS positivity and number of inflammatory cells. Results: All the samples except two, showed pathological changes like a decrease in nuclear size, increase in cytoplasm, change in nucleus-cytoplasm ratio, a significant decrease in goblet cell density and certain degree of squamous metaplasia. Conclusions: One month following LASIK we observed histopathologic changes in the perilimbal conjunctiva, mainly a decrease in the number of goblet cells and different grades of squamous metaplasia.

Keywords : Impression cytology; LASIK.