Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative assessment of corneal biomechanics in refractive surgery.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To review current and emerging methods and utilities of preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative measurements of corneal biomechanics and their effects on refractive surgery decision-making.

RECENT FINDINGS

Several recent clinical and preclinical studies have demonstrated the utility of corneal biomechanical analysis in refractive surgery. These studies focus on both screening surgical candidates for keratoconic disease as well as intraoperative and postoperative monitoring. The measurement of spatially resolved biomechanics is beginning to be studied in humans.

SUMMARY

Clinically available screening methods combining corneal biomechanics with topographic and tomographic data provide increased utility when screening for keratoconic disorder. Spatially resolved measurement of corneal biomechanics holds great potential for preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative evaluation of refractive surgery candidates as well as for more individualized procedures in the future.