A Comparative Study Of Epithelial Mapping Changes After Transepithelial And Manual Photorefractive Keratectomy In Myopic Patients

Published 2025 - 43rd Congress of the ESCRS

Reference: PO1067 | Type: Poster | DOI: 10.82333/3pgn-z802

Authors: Suha Alshami ¹ , Hazem Elhennawi* ² , Ihab Osman ² , Ramy Awad ³ , Ahmed Elmassry ²

¹Ophthalmology,Alexandria Ophthalmology Hospital,Alexandria,Egypt, ²Ophthalmology,Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University,Alexandria,Egypt, ³Ophthalmology,Faculty of Medicine, Delta University for Science and technology,Mansoura,Egypt

Purpose

This study aims to compare epithelial mapping changes following transepithelial and manual PRK for myopia correction. By evaluating patterns of epithelial remodeling and healing dynamics, we seek to identify differences in outcomes between these techniques.

Setting

Roayah Vision Correction Center, Alexandria, Egypt

Methods

This prospective paired-eye study included 52 eyes of 26 myopic patients, each treated with either transepithelial PRK or manual PRK. Preoperative evaluations involved visual acuity, refraction, and corneal topography using the MS-39. Postoperative care included topical antibiotics, steroids, and lubricants, with follow-ups at one week, one month, three and six months to assess visual acuity, refractive error, epithelial healing, and corneal epithelial mapping.

Results

Preoperatively, both groups had comparable median spherical equivalents and UCVA. Group B demonstrated faster epithelial healing, with significantly greater epithelial thickness at one week and one month. At three months, group B showed superior refractive outcomes (median spherical equivalent 0.0 D vs. -0.32 D in group A) and better UCVA at six months (-0.04 LogMAR vs. -0.08 LogMAR in group A). Central epithelial thickness increased in both groups, stabilizing by six months. A transient correlation between increased epithelial thickness and myopic shift was observed in group B at one week.

Conclusions

Epithelial mapping reveals hyperplasia in both PRK methods, with transepithelial PRK showing smoother epithelial remodeling and less fluctuation, particularly in the early postoperative period.