Posters

Epi-Bowman’s blunt keratectomy (EBK) vs. ETOH epithelial removal in myopic PRK: a contralateral-eye prospective study

Poster Details

First Author: M.Chiridou GREECE

Co Author(s): A. Kanellopoulos                    

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To compare the outcomes and complications of Epi-Bowman’s blunt keratectomy (EBK) using Epi-clearTM epikeratome, with alcohol delamination of the corneal epithelium during photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in contralateral eyes.

Setting:

LaserVision.gr Clinical and Research Eye Institute Athens Greece

Methods:

This prospective, randomized contralateral eye study included 44 eyes of 22 patients undergoing PRK for bilateral myopia or myopic astigmatism. In each patient, epithelial delimitation was performed using Epi-clearTM epikeratome EBK (EBK group) on one eye, and diluted ethanol (EtOH) on the fellow eye (EtOH group). Post-operative pain, epithelial healing, epithelial profile and visual outcome were compared between the two groups.

Results:

The mean postoperative pain scores were 0.37±0.25 for EBK-group and 0.82±0.22 for EtOH-group (P=.043). The mean epithelial defect size at day 3 postoperatively was 1.61±1.46mm2 and 2.25±1.69mm2 respectively(P=.034). The mean preoperative central epithelial thickness was 50.88±3.48um for EBK-group and 50.66±4.58um for EtOH-group(P=.800), while 1week postoperatively it was 49.00±4.47um and 46.77±4.40um(P=.020), respectively. The postoperative 3month remaining mean spherical equivalent was -0.04±0.49D for EBK group and -0.21±0.26D for EtOH group (P =.520). There was no significant difference in UCVA and BCVA between groups.

Conclusions:

Our data suggest that this novel EBK device and technique may minimize postoperative pain, accelerate re-epithelialization and offer earlier visual recovery, compared to EtOH when employed for myopic PRK.

Financial Disclosure:

None