Complement-derived anaphylatoxins in human donor corneas treated with excimer laser.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

An inflammatory response produced by excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) may be associated with the subsequent corneal haze and regressions in refractive error observed after treatment. Complement-derived anaphylatoxins, potent mediators of inflammation, may have a role in postoperative healing.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty right human donor corneas underwent a 6-D excimer laser PRK treatment. The corresponding left donor corneas served as the controls. After incubation in tissue culture media for 6 hours and elution in phosphate-buffered saline with EDTA for 24 hours, complement-derived anaphylatoxins C3a, C4a, and C5a were measured in corneal eluates by radioimmunoassay.

RESULTS

Compared with control corneas, the excimer PRK corneas failed to demonstrate a significant increase in C3a, C4a, or C5a levels (P > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the excimer laser at this dose does not activate significant complement in the cornea.