Contralateral Eye Study Comparing Post-Operative Corneal Haze After Photorefractive Keratectomy (Prk) Versus Trans-Prk

Objectively compare post-operative corneal haze after PRK and trans-PRK using an automated software based on Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) images.  

Foundation Rothschild Hospital, Refractive Surgery Department.

This is a prospective comparative interventional study. 40 eyes of 20 patients were included. One eye was operated of PRK, and the other eye was operated of trans-PRK. All procedures were performed using the same excimer laser machine (EX500 Wavelight, Alcon). The main parameter measured was post-operative haze using a software based on reflectivity analysis of the corneal OCT images (OCTanalysis – US Patent 10,748,287, July 2020). Other parameters measured were post-operative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), residual refractive error, post-operative pain, and slit-lamp haze at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months post-operatively.  

Objective corneal haze measured using the OCT software was not significantly different between the two groups, with a follow-up up to 12 months post-operatively. There was also no significant difference in post-operative BCVA, residual refractive error, and post-operative pain between the two eyes of the same patient using both techniques.   

This study shows that PRK and trans-PRK have no difference in post-operative haze, post-operative pain, and post-operative refractive results. Care must be taken before choosing the surgical technique. A larger study with a larger number of participants is necessary to validate more our results.