PRK pain and symptoms: mechanical de-epithelization vs transepithelial ablation

Session Details

Session Title: LASIK & PRK II

Session Date/Time: Monday 16/09/2019 | 14:00-16:00

Paper Time: 15:00

Venue: Free Paper Forum: Podium 3

First Author: : B.Moscovici BRAZIL

Co Author(s): :    P. Rymer   R. Gomes   M. Campos   P. Schor                    

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Study of patients symptoms satisfaction in PRK surgery comparing manual de-epithelization in one eye versus trans-epithelial ablation in the fellow eye after 180 days of surgery using the excimer laser Wavelight Allegretto EX 500 (Alcon ®, Forthworth, TX).

Setting:

Refractive Surgery sector of the Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil Design: Prospective randomized trial.

Methods:

We selected 188 eyes from 94 patients with hyperopia, astigmatism, and myopia. A total of 113 patients were operated. One patient was excluded per infection, one excluded per reoperation and sixteen due to segment loss. All patients were examined in the same sequence, with preoperative examinations at the first, and seventh postoperative days.

Results:

A total of 61 (64.9%) women and 33 (35.1%) men were included. The mean age of the sample was 31.66 ( 6.69) years (22-54 years). A questionnaire was applied to evaluate patient postoperative symptoms in both techniques. 32 patients (34.04%) preferred the trans-epithelial method and 59 patients (62.76%) reported preference by the mechanical method. Only three patients (3.2%) had no preference for any of the techniques. Regarding symptoms on the 1st postoperative day: there was a statistical significant difference 5% (p = 0.05) on the symptoms of pain, burning, tearing and foreign body sensation.

Conclusions:

Majority of patients preferred the mechanical technique with less pain, tearing, foreign body sensation and burning on the first post-operative day.

Financial Disclosure:

None