Dose-Related Decrease of Hemidesmosomes of the Rabbit Corneal Epithelium After Excimer Laser Photorefractive Keratectomy

Abstract

Currently excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is widely performed to correct refractive errors. It has been recognized that it takes several months for attachment apparatus of the basement membrane of the comeal epithelium to reconstruct their original structure after laser ablation. We investigated dose-related delay of the recovery of hemidesmosomes of the basement membrane of basal cells on the comeal epithelium after PRK in rabbits. Three months after excimer laser ablation, the percentages of hemidesmosomes occupied by basement membrane were measured. The results showed that the percentages significantly decreased as follows: PRK12D group < PRK3Dgroup < control group. Although only two doses of laser ablation were tested, these results indicated that the more laser ablation the cornea received, the more delay of reconstruction of hemidesmosomes of the basal cells on the corneal epithelium occured.