The BioMask for Treatment of Corneal Surface Irregularities with Excimer Laser Phototherapeutic Keratectomy

PURPOSETo assess the characteristics of BioMask as a potential masking agent for use with the excimer laser. METHODWe addressed ablation rate, smoothness, ease of use, dioptric shift, treatment of standardized irregular topography, and ability of BioMask to induce dioptric change in vivo. RESULTSBioMask ablates at a rate of 0.28 µm per pulse. The BioMask conforms to the base curve of a contact lens in the excimer blank, eye bank eye, and rabbit eye with a r of 0.9982, 0.9844, 0.9858, respectively. We are readily able to create 20 diopters of flattening or steepening (r = 0.9944). Standardized irregular topography generation in the rabbit eye and then removal with BioMask was successful. The central corneal topography of the rabbit cornea showed predictable changes with various contact lens base curves with the BioMask (r = 0.875). CONCLUSIONSBioMask has excellent potential as an ablatable mask material in the treatment of superficial corneal scars.