Corneal densitometry as a tool to measure epithelial ingrowth after laser in situ keratomileusis

Abstract

A retrospective case study of 3 patients that developed epithelial ingrowth after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). This study was conducted at Boston Eye Group in Brookline, Massachusetts. The Oculus Pentacam was used to study corneal densitometry for each patient. Corneal densitometry readings were obtained for each patient pre-operatively and post-operatively after ingrowth was discovered. Densitometry was recorded at the central nest of opacity and at the leading edges of the ingrowth. For all patients, the most severe stages of epithelial ingrowth observed on slit lamp photographs correlated to the highest densitometry readings, with peak densitometry ranging from 73.3 - 95.1. These values were much higher than pre-operative densitometry readings, which ranged from 21.8 - 27.2. In two cases, the Pentacam densitometry map revealed progression of ingrowth towards the visual axis that was only faintly detectable or not detectable at all on corresponding slit lamp photographs. Corneal densitometry can be used as an objective measure of the severity and progression of epithelial ingrowth.