Week 2 - Rios

Now the second week of immersion has been concluded. A summer research project is now in place. It consists of setting up a flow chamber to study the effects of shear stress on corneal epithelial cells on a silk substrate. Already started on this and is positively moving forward. I expect to be done before the end of summer immersion. Also, I again had the opportunity to be present during the clinic days of Dr. Rosenblatt and Dr. Dematriades. I was able to observe through the teaching scope of the slit lamp. Lastly, I observed several refractive surgeries of two kinds. Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and Laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK). In PRK, alcohol is used to loosen the epithelial layer of the cornea in order to remove it and have direct access to the stromal layer. Then a laser is used to ablate the stroma in order to reshape it and correct the vision. Finally, anti-inflammatory and anti-scarring medication is used and the epithelial layer will heal. On the other hand, in LASIK, a femtosecond laser is used to create a series of closely arranged bubbled underneath the epithelial layer of the cornea. Then, this layer, also called the flap, is pull back but it is still attached at a hinge point on one end. A different laser is used to ablate the stromal layer and correct the vision, and then the flap is put back into position creating a natural band-aid.