Study of the human cornea following excimer laser keratectomy by atomic force microscope technology (CAT#: STEM-SMMT-0002-LJX)

Introduction

The cornea is the transparent part of the front outer wall of the eye. It is rounded, occupies one-sixth of the outer surface, is about 1 mm thick, and consists mainly of vaseless connective tissue. The front of the cornea is slightly raised, curved like a sphere, with refraction. The cornea is rich in sensory nerve endings, and any small irritation, injury or inflammation can cause pain and tears.<br />Fresh human corneas were irradiated in vitro with an increasing number of impulses emitted by a 193 nm ArF laboratory excimer laser in order to produce either smooth flat surfaces or stair-like formations within the cornea. The corneas were investigated in a Topometrix(R) atomic force microscope in their native state. For comparison, three corneas were fixed with glutaraldehyde and processed for scanning electron microscopy.