Corneal stroma can clear LASIK contamination

The corneal stroma has the ability to clear microorganisms introduced during LASIK, according to a study published in the October issue of the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

Sepehr Feizi and colleagues from Labbafinejad Hospital, Shaheed Beheshti University and Baqyatallah Hospital, Tehran, Iran measured the rate of corneal interface contamination during LASIK to determine possible sources of contamination and evaluate how the cornea reacts.

A total of 200 eyes were evaluated for corneal interface contamination following LASIK. Cultures were taken from the upper and lower eyelid margins and the inferior fornices prior to surgery and from the corneal interface and the instrument at the end of surgery. Media were cultured for 14 days at 37°C under aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

The rate of contamination was recorded as 24.5%. The most commonly found organism was Staphylococcus epidermidis, which was found in 43 cases (87.7%). None of the contaminated or non-contaminated cases developed corneal ulcers, however, two eyes did develop diffuse lamellar keratitis.

The authors concluded that the corneal stroma is able to clear LASIK induced microorganisms.