Posters

Can surface ablation be a two-day procedure?

Poster Details

First Author: H.Akçam TURKEY

Co Author(s):    E. Karaca   H. Yazıcı Eroğlu   M. Ünlü   B. Aydın   A. Hondur  

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To test weather epithelial healing can be consistently completed in 2 days after surface ablation with optimal sized epithelial opening, use of autologous serum drops and avoidance of potentially toxic topical drugs.

Setting:

Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey.

Methods:

Thirty patients (60 eyes) underwent PRK for myopia. An 8.0 mm epithelial opening was prepared with application of %18 alcohol for 20 seconds. PRK was performed with the ESIRIS excimer laser (SCHWIND, Kleinostheim, Germany) with an optic zone of 6.5 mm. Mitomycin C (0.02%) was applied for 15 seconds in eyes with ablation depth greater than 70 μm. Thirty eyes (15 patients) received autologous serum drops (Study Group) while 30 eyes (15 patients) received conventional artificial tears (Control Group) after PRK. All patients received oral non-steroid analgesics twice a day, and topical moxifloxacin 4 times a day until epithelial closure. Time to epithelial healing was the main outcome measure. Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), manifest refraction, and haze were recorded.

Results:

Preoperative myopic spherical equivalent refraction was -3.42±1.72 D in the study group and -2.77±1.64 D in the control group (p=0.145). Mean ablation depth was 66.8±33.8µm (30-150µm) in the study group and 70.4±32.8µm (24-140µm) in the control group (p=0.654). The mean time to epithelial healing was shorter in the eyes receiving autologous serum than the eyes receiving conventional treatment (48 hours vs. 72 hours, p=0.001). All eyes achieved 20/25 or better UCVA at 6 months. Over 90% of eyes were within ±0.50 D of emmetropia at 12 months in both groups. No eye showed more than +1 haze, and no significant difference was noted in the incidence of +1 haze.

Conclusions:

Use of autologous serum drops, together with small epithelial opening and avoidance of potentially toxic topical drugs may accelerate epithelial healing after surface ablation. FINANCIAL INTEREST: NONE