Experimental measurement of corneal haze after excimer laser keratectomy.

We developed a model of corneal haze following photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in Iber Braun hens and studied optical properties. The animals underwent PRK for -9.0 diopters of myopia and were divided into groups based on treatment with different wound-healing modulators. At different time points postoperatively, we evaluated haze by slit-lamp microscopy. An experimental device was developed to measure transmittance spatial maps and forward scattering of He-Ne laser light in the excised corneas. Subjective and objective haze measures were compared for each group at the different times. Keratocyte densities were determined by optical microscopy and keratocyte sizes by electron microscopy. The agreement between experimental results and a simple numerical model of scattering suggests that increases in stromal keratocyte density after PRK might explain the degree of corneal haze.