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Evaluation of transcutaneous electrical simulation to improve recovery from corneal hypoesthesia after LASIK

Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology volume 247, pages 1133–1138 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the efficacy, and safety of transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) to accelerate corneal nerve regeneration and improved recovery from corneal hypesthasia after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).

Setting

Khodadoust Eye Hospital, Shiraz, Fars, Iran

Methods

This prospective, randomized, clinical study comprised 40 eyes of 20 patients scheduled to undergo bilateral LASIK. In each patient, one eye was randomly assigned to receive transcutaneous electrical stimulation (20 HZ) for 60 minutes, and the other eye allocated as control. Corneal sensitivity was measured using the Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer in four areas outside and five areas inside the LASIK flap preoperatively, and at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively. Best-corrected visual acuity and the incidence of adverse events were noted at each visit.

Results

For all four points outside the LASIK flap, normal corneal sensitivity was maintained throughout the study; no significant difference was found between the study eyes and the control eyes at these points (P > 0.05). All points within the LASIK flap except the point closest to the hinge demonstrated profound corneal hypoesthesia at 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month postoperatively, with no differences noted between the control and study eyes (P > 0.05). After 3 months, points within the flap had statistically significantly better corneal sensitivity in the study group than in the control group (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Transcutaneous electrical stimulation significantly improves corneal sensitivity at 3 months after LASIK. This may be due to accelerated corneal nerve regeneration by electrical stimulation.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Khashayar Ghaffariyeh for his kind cooperation. We also gratefully acknowledge the Dr. Khodadoust Eye Hospital, Shiraz, Iran.

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Affiliations

  1. Khodadoust Eye Hospital, Motahari Avenue, Shiraz, Fars, Iran

    Alireza Ghaffariyeh, Sadollah Puyan, Nazafarin Honarpisheh & Babak Bagheri

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Isfahan, Iran

    Alireza Peyman

  3. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Mohammadreza Peyman

Authors
  1. Alireza Ghaffariyeh
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  2. Alireza Peyman
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  3. Sadollah Puyan
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  4. Nazafarin Honarpisheh
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  5. Babak Bagheri
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  6. Mohammadreza Peyman
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Correspondence to Alireza Ghaffariyeh.

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None of the authors has any financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

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Ghaffariyeh, A., Peyman, A., Puyan, S. et al. Evaluation of transcutaneous electrical simulation to improve recovery from corneal hypoesthesia after LASIK. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 247, 1133–1138 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-009-1079-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-009-1079-5

Keywords

  • Electrical stimulation
  • Nerve regeneration
  • LASIK
  • Corneal hypoesthesia