Posters

Comparison of Epi-Bowman keratectomy with alcohol-assisted PRK

Poster Details

First Author: S.Taneri GERMANY

Co Author(s):    S. Kiessler   A. Rost   T. Schultz   H. Dick           

Abstract Details

Purpose:

In Epi-Bowman KeratectomyTM (EBK™) a new dynamic multi-blade single-use device (Epi-Clear™, Orca Surgical, Israel) is utilized to remove the epithelium by sweeping movements across the corneal surface. Epithelial cells are discarded. Alcohol or other chemical agents are not utilized. We wanted to compare clinical results of EBK to alcohol-assisted PRK.

Setting:

Center for Refractive Surgery, Eye Department at St. Francis Hospital Muenster, Germany

Methods:

Prospective consecutive case series with historic control group. Adult patients seeking laser vision correction of myopia or myopic astigmatism without ocular diseases or prior surgery were included. The EBK group comprised 50 consecutive eyes of 27 patients and the PRK group 50 eyes of 25 patients.

Results:

No intraoperative complications occurred. EBK: At day 1/4/3 months, uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) was 0.41/0.47/0.93 (decimal scale); epithelial defect diameter was 4.7/0.2/0 (mm); pain level was 3.8/0.3/0 (visual analogue scale, 0-10), respectively. At 3 months, efficacy index was 0.86 and spherical aberrations were unchanged. Three eyes (6%) showed (presumably sterile) infiltrates. PRK: At day 1/4/3 months, UDVA was 0.56/0.46/1.15; epithelial defect diameter was 6.3/0.2/0 (mm); pain level was 5.0/0.3/0, respectively. At 3 months, efficacy index was 1.1 and spherical aberrations were unchanged.

Conclusions:

The new method of epithelial debridement with Epi-Clear before laser ablation seems to offer fast epithelial removal without nicking Bowman´s membrane. However, we found significantly inferior results of EBK compared to alcohol-assisted PRK. Furthermore, after EBK corneal infiltrates as a new type of postoperative complication were observed.

Financial Disclosure:

receives consulting fees, retainer, or contract payments from a company producing, developing or supplying the product or procedure presented