Risk factors predicting steroid-induced ocular hypertension after photorefractive keratectomy

Abstract

To assess the risk factors contributing to steroid-induced ocular hypertension after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). Care Laser Centers, Tel Aviv, Israel. Retrospective case series. Patients having PRK between January 2000 and December 2015 were followed for at least 3months. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured using the Goldmann applanation tonometer after 1week and after 1, 3, and 6months. Ocular hypertension was defined as an IOP elevation of 25% while on topical steroid treatment (minimum 28mm Hg) followed by an IOP drop of 25% when steroid treatment was discontinued. The study comprised 1783 patients (3566 eyes). The meanage of the patients was 26.95years±7.56 (SD), and 54.85% were men. A total of 106 eyes (2.97%) were steroid responders. The responder group had a higher proportion of men than the nonrespondergroup (70.75% versus 29.25%; P<.001), higher centralcorneal thickness (CCT) (531.9±40.2μm versus 521.2±40.9μm; P=.008), lower mean keratometry (K) power (43.39±1.84 diopters [D] versus 44.08±1.88 D; P<.001), higher proportion of high myopia (>6.0 D) (31.13% versus 22.18%; P=.03), and higher rate of postoperative corneal haze (16.98% versus 4.25%; P<.001) and were treated postoperatively with more potent steroids. All factors remained significant in the multivariate analysis. Significant factors associated with post-PRK ocular hypertension were male sex, high CCT, a low mean K reading, high myopia, corneal haze, and treatment with stronger steroids such as dexamethasone.