Photorefractive Keratectomy With and WithoutSmoothing: A Bilateral Study
Sebastiano Serrao, MD; Marco Lombardo, MD; Fabio Mondini, Eng
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Date:
22/03/2007
PURPOSE:
To assess whether a smoother stromal surface and a faster epithelium regeneration
after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) may lead to better visual results.
METHODS: Ten patients had unilateral PRK and contralateral PRK plus
smoothing. The operative outcome was checked by means of digital standardized photographs taken at 0, 20, 40, and 60 hours
after surgery. Complete clinical examinations were performed before and 1 and 3 months after surgery.
RESULTS: Between 20 and 40 hours after surgery, the average velocity of radial epithelial
migration in eyes in which smoothing was performed was 0.083 ± 0.008 mm/h. This was faster than
that (0.064 ± 0.007 mm/h [P<.01]) observed in the
eyes without smoothing. The corneal regularity index at 1 and 3 months was worse in the PRK alone
group compared to the PRK plus smoothing group
(P=.1). At 3 months, better visual outcome and less haze were observed in the PRK plus smoothing
group.
CONCLUSIONS: When using a flying spot laser, PRK plus smoothing improved the visual results
and diminished regression and haze at 3 months, but gave rise to a slight hyperopic shift. [J Refract
Surg 2003;19:58-64]
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