PREVENTION OF REGRESSION IN REFRACTIVE KERATOPLASTY

摘要

Methods are provided that prevent or inhibit corneal refractive regression caused by the corneal stromal remodeling resulting from corneal epithelial or keratocyte cell apoptosis or necrosis in patients who will undergo or have undergone a refractive keratoplasty procedure. Methods and compositions are provided that prevent apoptosis in epithelial cells by corneal cooling during thermal refractive procedures; that create or restore cross-links between stromal lamellar fibers; and that interrupt at least one step in the stromal remodeling response including inhibition of apoptosis, keratocyte proliferation and migration, and inhibition of collagenesis. Additional methods are provided to measure corneal rigidity to assess loss of rigidity due to refractive procedures or restoration of rigidity following therapeutic intervention to restore lamellar cross-linking.