Specular microscopy of the corneal endothelium after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy

PURPOSE: To evaluate endothelial cell morphology and density after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). METHODS: We used a noncontact specular microscope to examine the central corneal endothelium of 50 eyes of 50 patients who had PRK for an attempted correction between -2.5 and -17.0 diopters (D) (mean -7.8 D) beginning 18 to 24 hours postoperatively. RESULTS: After a follow-up of 11.4 +/- 6.1 months (mean +/- standard deviation), mean endothelial cell density was 2577.6 +/- 402.0 cells/mm2 with rare signs of polymegathism and pleomorphism. Preoperative and untreated fellow eye endothelial cell density values were used as a control. Paired Student's t-test and analysis of variance results were not significant (P > .05). CONCLUSION: Excimer laser PRK did not significantly change cell density and morphology.