Experimental study on bacterial infection of cornea after laser in situkeratomileusis

Abstract:

AIM:To investigate a new approach of establishing rabbit bacterial infection keratitis model after laser in situkeratomileusis (LASIK), so as to provide reference for the diagnosis and treatment of the post-LASIK bacterial infection keratitis. METHODS:Twenty healthy adult rabbits were selected to perform LASIK on their right eyes, and inoculated with staphylococcus aureus after surgery. Examinations were performed at 12 hours, on the first, 3^rd, 5^th and 10^th days after surgery using ocular, digital slit-lamp and confocal microscopy. After 10 days operation, the corneas were collected for pathological examination. RESULTS:Eighteen eyes bacterial infection keratitis model post-LASIK were successfully established. The infectious infiltrates appeared as dots or spots at the shallow layer of stroma underneath the corneal flap at the early stage, and gradually merged together over the infection time. The infectious infiltrates also spread bi-directionally towards the corneal flap and the deeper stromal layer from the flap interface, where the corneal flap showed more severe infection than the deeper stromal layer. At the late period the infection caused the corneal flap melting or dislocation, corneal flap ulcer and perforation with hypopyon. CONCLUSION:It would be feasible to establish bacterial infection keratitis after LASIK. Bacterial infection would lead to serious pathological damage after LASIK.