New Transepithelial Prk Vs. Conventional Prk: A Corneal Densitometry And Aberrometry Study.

Published 2022 - 40th Congress of the ESCRS

Reference: PP18.12 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/qq8a-5773

Authors: Jaime Aramberri* ¹ , Gorka Laucirica ² , Igor Illarramendi ² , Javier Mendicute ²

¹Miranza Begitek,San Sebastián,Spain;Miranza Okular,Vitoria,Spain, ²Miranza Begitek,San Sebastián,Spain

Purpose

To describe and compare corneal density, subjective refraction, visual acuity, and corneal higher order aberrations (HOA) after corneal refractive surgery using either alcohol-assisted photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) or single-step transepithelial PRK (tPRK).

Setting

Miranza Begitek. Donostia – San Sebastián, Spain.

Methods

We performed a retrospective, observational, study in 120 right eyes from 120 healthy consecutive myopic patients who underwent single-step PRK or tPRK to correct myopia of up to 6 diopters and astigmatism of up to 2 diopters. The WaveLight® EX500 excimer laser (Alcon Laboratories, Inc.) was used in all cases. Visual acuity, subjective refraction, and Pentacam AXL® measurements were performed at the preoperative visit and at a 4-6-month follow-up visit. Pentacam AXL® software was used to assess corneal optical density in various annuli for different corneal depths and anterior corneal HOA (6 mm area of analysis).

Results

Both groups were similar in mean age (32.25±8.73 and 32.80±7.04 in the PRK and tPRK groups respectively, p>0.05) and preoperative spherical equivalent values (−3.07±1.52 and −3.38±1.46 in the PRK and tPRK groups respectively, p=0.21). There were no statistically significant differences in visual acuity and postoperative refraction between groups. Postoperative corneal densitometry did not show statistically significant differences in any of the areas studied and both surgical procedures obtained similar results. However, analysis of HOA showed statistically significant differences between the techniques (1.42±0.39 and 1.80±0.62 for the PRK and tPRK groups, respectively; p=0.000).

Conclusions

Both PRK and single-step tPRK gave comparable visual, refractive, and corneal density outcomes. Some differences were observed in HOA, but were not clinically relevant.