Epithelial heating rates with topical ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, and ofloxacin with artificial tears after photorefractive keratectomy

Abstract

Purpose To determine whether corneal epithelial healing differs after the use of topical ciprofloxacin alone, topical ofloxacin alone, or topical ofloxacin with artificial tears in patients having photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). Setting Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA. Methods Eighteen patients (6 women, 12 men) with moderate myopia (−1.50 to −6.00 diopters [D]) had standardized PRK. Patient age ranged from 25 to 62 years. The 28 eyes (16 right, 12 left) were randomized into 3 treatment groups: ofloxacin alone, n = 9 eyes; ciprofloxacin, n = 9 eyes; and ofloxacin with Refresh Plus®, n = 10 eyes. The drugs were administered immediately after surgery and then every 6 hours. Video recordings of the corneal wounds stained with fluorescein were performed at 8:00 am and 4:00 pm using a video slitlamp camera with a cobalt-blue light until the wound completely healed. The videotaped images were recorded and analyzed by a computer planimetry program. Wound areas were recorded and compared among the 3 drugs. The square-root transformation was applied to the wound area to obtain a constant healing rate. Statistical comparisons were analyzed using an analysis of variance test. Results Mean recovery time was 82.67 hours ± 14.42 (SD) in the ofloxacin eyes, 120.89 ± 34.05 hours in the ciprofloxacin eyes, and 76.80 ± 19.30 hours in the ofloxacin with Refresh Plus eyes. Mean healing rate was 0.66 ± 0.17 hours, 0.54 ± 0.16 hours, and 0.67 ± 0.15 hours, respectively. The healing rate was significantly higher in the ofloxacin with Refresh Plus eyes than in the ciprofloxacin eyes ( P < .0001). There was no significant difference between the ofloxacin eyes and the ofloxacin with Refresh Plus eyes ( P = .42). Conclusion Ofloxacin with Refresh Plus and ofloxacin alone had a more positive effect on epithelial healing than ciprofloxacin. The ciprofloxacin eyes were significantly more prone to impaired or delayed wound healing and to the development of corneal haze.