Back to Freepaper Session

Effects of alcohol-assisted versus mechanical epithelial debridement on corneal endothelial cells after photorefractive keratectomy

Session Details

Session Title: Surface Ablation II

Session Date/Time: Tuesday 08/10/2013 | 16:30-18:00

Paper Time: 17:09

Venue: Main Lecture Hall (Ground Floor)

First Author: : N.Nassiri IRAN

Co Author(s): :    N. Nassiri   K. Sheibani   S. Safi        

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To compare the effects of alcohol-assisted versus mechanical epithelial debridement on corneal endothelial cells after photorefractive keratectomy using confocal microscopy.

Setting:

Imam Hossein Medical Center, Tehran, Iran.

Methods:

This prospective randomized, clinical trial was performed on 88 eyes from 44 patients with the spherical equivalent refraction of <-6.00 diopters. Mechanical versus alcohol-assisted epithelial debridement was done before performing photorefractive keratectomy. One eye of each patient was randomly assigned to one group (mechanical group or alcohol-assisted group) and the fellow eye to the alternate group. Confocal microscopy examination was performed preoperatively and at 3 months postoperatively. The main outcome measures were endothelial cell density, polymegathism and hexagonality as well as the mean endothelial cell area measured three months after the surgery.

Results:

In our study no statistically significant difference was noted between study groups in terms of epithelial thickness 3 months postoperatively. Stromal keratocyte density in anterior and middle stroma did not show a difference between two groups but the posterior keratocyte density was higher in alcohol- assisted mechanical debridement. We did not find any statistically significant difference in endothelial cells regarding cell density, mean cell area, hexagonality, and polymegathism.

Conclusions:

Based on our findings the adverse effects of mechanical epithelial debridement on corneal endothelial cells is comparable to alcohol-assisted epithelial debridement when MMC is used in both groups. The choice of which method is best is under the discretion of the ophthalmologist.

Financial Interest:

NONE