Contribution of Bowman layer to corneal biomechanics.
J Cataract Refract Surg
; 47(7): 927-932, 2021 07 01.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33315734
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
To compare the elastic modulus of thin corneal lamellas using 2D stress-strain extensometry in healthy ex vivo human corneal lamellas with or without the presence of Bowman layer.SETTING:
Center for Applied Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland; ELZA Institute, Dietikon, Switzerland; Department of Ophthalmology, Philipps University of Marburg, Germany.DESIGN:
Prospective experimental laboratory study.METHODS:
Healthy human corneas were stripped of Descemet membrane and the endothelium for Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty. After epithelium removal, corneas were divided into 2 groups. In Group 1, Bowman layer was ablated with an excimer laser (20 µm thick, 10 mm). In Group 2, Bowman layer was left intact. Then, a lamella was cut from the anterior cornea with an automated microkeratome. Elastic and viscoelastic material properties were analyzed by 2D stress-strain extensometry between 0.03 and 0.70 N.RESULTS:
Twenty-six human corneas were analyzed. The mean lamella thickness was 160 ± 37 µm in corneas with Bowman layer and 155 ± 22 µm in corneas without. No statistically significant differences between flaps with and without Bowman layer were observed in the tangential elastic modulus between 5% and 20% strain (11.5 ± 2.9 kPa vs 10.8 ± 3.7 kPa, P > .278).CONCLUSIONS:
The presence or absence of Bowman layer did not reveal a measurable difference in corneal stiffness. This may indicate that the removal of Bowman layer during photorefractive keratectomy does not represent a disadvantage to corneal biomechanics.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Ceratectomia Fotorrefrativa
/
Córnea
Tipo de estudo:
Observational_studies
Limite:
Humans
País/Região como assunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Cataract Refract Surg
Ano de publicação:
2021
Tipo de documento:
Article