Table 3.

Confocal scanning laser microscopy parameters

Corneal parameters	Preoperative (baseline)		Postoperative day 5				Postoperative day 15
	MP group (n = 30)	SP group (n = 30)	MP group (n = 30)	P value	SP group (n = 30)	P value	MP group (n = 30)	P value	SP group (n = 30)	P value
Keratocyte activation (average grade)	1.27 ± 1.11	1.17 ± 0.38	2.90 ± 0.71	< 0.05*	3.37 ± 0.49	< 0.05*	1.67 ± 0.61	0.123	2.2 ± 0.67	< 0.05*
Langerhan’s cell density (cells/mm2)	9.3 ± 3.6	9.8 ± 3.7	14.2 ± 3.6	< 0.05*	21.6 ± 10.6	0.05*	10.1 ± 1.8	0.160	16.5 ± 5.7	< 0.05*
Nerve fibre density (n/mm2)	26.1 ± 3.7	27 ± 4	21.4 ± 3.2	< 0.05*	19.9 ± 3.4	< 0.05*	22.6 ± 4	< 0.05*	21.3 ± 2	< 0.05*
Endothelial cell density (cells/mm2)	2522.7 ± 321.42	2338.9 ± 211.4	2387.8 ± 311.72	< 0.05*	2260.37 ± 197.41	< 0.05*	2367.07 ± 339.64	< 0.05*	2250.83 ± 195.77	< 0.05*

Values in table are presented as the mean ± SD

*P < 0.05 for within-group comparisons versus baseline