Figure 6.

Experimental cornea. Light microphotograph of the ablation zone 1 month after the procedure. The epithelial layer (E) covering the stroma has normal appearance, with the possible exception of minor thickness variations. The anterior stroma (AS) under the epithelium may be distinguished by a big number of cell elements (fibroblasts); the structure of extracellular matrix in the subepithelial stroma differs significantly from that of extracellular matrix of deeper layers. Note the absence of inflammatory cells in the subepithelial stroma. Original magnification × 130.