Scheimpflug anterior segment photography assessment of wound healing after myopic excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy

Purpose: To describe a method for analyzing Scheimpflug anterior segment images for a new measure of the cornea's response to excimer laser photoablation. Setting: Mericos Eye Institute, Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla, California. Methods: Digitized Scheimpflug anterior segment photographs of operated and unoperated eyes were obtained in 17 patients 1 to 15 months after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). The images were analyzed to determine their dimensions. Each imaged opacity was compared with corneal haze observed by slitlamp biomicroscopy, intended ablation depth, postoperative corneal thickness, and refractive error change. Results: All postoperative corneas displayed a nonhomogeneous, meniscus-shaped pattern in the ablated area that ranged from 17 to 40% of corneal thickness. This pattern correlated poorly with intended laser ablation depth. Conclusion: This technique provides a new assessment of corneal response to PRK. Improvements in software analysis may facilitate quantitative assessment.