Quantifying Cytokines in Tears After Corneal Surface Surgery
Narrative Responses:
Purpose
To evaluate cytokine level in the tears during epithelization after PRK.
Methods
Fourteen eyes of 7 patients for the correction of low myopia (< -3.0 Diopters S.E.) were included. Epithelium was removed with a rotary brush. Aspheric ablation was done using the excimer Schwind laser. During the first 4 days of re-epithelization, a sample of 50 microliters of tears was collected with capillary tubes prior to surgery and at 1st and 4th day. IL-1, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL- 17 in the tears were analized using multiplex Luminex technology. Visual acuity, manifest refraction and level of haze were evaluated at 1st week , 1st and 3rd months.
Results
Fourteen eyes underwent PRK (-1.85D + 0.92) At 3 months manifest refraction was - 0.15 D (+ 0.42 D) . The IL-6 concentrations in the tear film were statistically significant higher at 1st day, and lower but significant different at 4th day p(<0.05). IL-8 was statistically significant higher at 4th day p(<0.05), but not different between control and 1st day p(>0.05). IL-17 was significant higher at 1st and at 4th day. There were no measurable levels of IL1-beta and TNF- alpha.
Conclusion
The IL-6 seems to play a role during the initial acute fase , and IL-8 and IL-17 during all corneal healing process after corneal surface surgery.