Abstract
Purpose. To evaluate the changes in epithelial thickness profile following transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (T-PRK) for myopia and to investigate the effect of epithelial remodeling on corneal asphericity. Methods. Forty-four patients (44 right eyes) who underwent T-PRK were retrospectively evaluated. Epithelial thickness was measured using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography at different corneal zones (central, 2 mm; paracentral, 2–5 mm; and mid-peripheral, 5-6 mm) preoperatively and at 1 week and 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. The correlation between the changes in corneal epithelial thickness (ΔCET) and postoperative Q-value changes (ΔQ) was analyzed 6 months postoperatively. Results. Epithelial thickness at 6 months showed a negative meniscus-like lenticular pattern with less central thickening, which increased progressively toward the mid-periphery (3.69 ± 4.2, 5.19 ± 3.8, and 6.23 ± 3.9 μm at the center, paracenter, and mid-periphery, resp., P < 0.01). A significant positive relationship was observed between epithelial thickening and ΔQ 6 months postoperatively (r = 0.438, 0.580, and 0.504, resp., P < 0.01). Conclusions. Significant epithelial thickening was observed after T-PRK and showed a lenticular change with more thickening mid-peripherally, resulting in increased oblateness postoperatively. Epithelial remodeling may modify the epithelial thickness profile after surface ablation refractive surgery for myopia.
Highlights
In recent years, owing to refractive accuracy and stability of excimer laser ablation concerns, research on epithelial thickness profile changes after myopic surgery has gained general interest [1, 2]
Nonuniformity in the thickness of corneal epithelium has been observed after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) [6, 7] and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) [8]
We evaluate the postoperative changes in epithelial thickness centrally, paracentrally, and mid-peripherally after transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (T-PRK) by using high-resolution spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and to investigate the potential association of these changes with Q-value change
Summary
In recent years, owing to refractive accuracy and stability of excimer laser ablation concerns, research on epithelial thickness profile changes after myopic surgery has gained general interest [1, 2]. Nonuniformity in the thickness of corneal epithelium has been observed after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) [6, 7] and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) [8]. Corneal surface ablation such as PRK has been the better choice for eyes with thin corneas because it preserves more corneal biomechanical properties than LASIK [9, 10]. New advanced surface ablation techniques, such as transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (T-PRK) [11], have been developed to reduce these complications
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