The Effect Of Insulin Eye Drops For Epithelial Healing After Trans-Prk.

Insulin eye drops are used to promote corneal epithelial recovery in various epithelial defects such as persistent epithelial defect, recurrent corneal erosion, and neurotrophic keratitis. Corneal refractive surgery is an artificial corneal epithelial defect, so we tried to find out whether insulin eye drops can be helpful in corneal epithelial recovery.

After Trans-PRK, the recovery rate of the corneal epithelium was compared between 194 eyes of the insulin eye drop group and 203 eyes of the control group. Insulin eye drops were prepared by mixing fast-acting insulin with artificial tears at a concentration of 1 unit per milliliter. Insulin eyedrops were applied 6 times a day for 2 to 3 days until the T-lens was removed. 

When recovery was complete, it was recorded whether the T-lenses were removed on day 2 or day 3. Visual acuity, myopia, astigmatism, and spherical equivalent ​​were measured before surgery and 1 week and 1 month after surgery to determine whether or not the refractive state was affected. The amount of correction and the area of ​​the optic zone were measured to analyze whether they were related to the recovery rate of the corneal epithelium.

The spherical equivalent of the insulin eyedrop eye drop group was -4.53±1.76D, and the spherical equivalent of the control group was -4.60±2.75D, showing no significant difference. The optic zone of the insulin eye drop group was 6.43±0.43mm, and the optic zone of the control group was 6.30±0.46 mm, showing no significant difference. The success rate of lens removal within 2 days of the insulin eye drop eye drop group was 92.7%(179 eyes), and the 2-day eye drop success rate of the control group was 88.7%(180 eyes), showing a significant difference (p<0.01). There was no significant difference in the postoperative spherical equivalent ​​of the insulin eye drops group and the control group. 

 Insulin eye drops seem to promote epithelial recovery even in artificial corneal epithelial defects such as refractive surgery. In addition, it is considered that it can be used safely because there is no effect on refractive outcomes and visual acuity.