Investigation of corneal epithelial thickness and irregularity by optical coherence tomography after transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy

Autor: Tzu-Heng Weng, Yu-Min Chang, Fu-Huang Lin, Zi-Xuan Weng, Tai-Wen Wang, Yi-Hao Chen, Ming-Cheng Tai, Jiann-Torng Chen, Chang-Min Liang, Ting-Yi Lin
Rok vydání: 2023
Předmět:
Zdroj: Clinical and Experimental Optometry. :1-9
ISSN: 1444-0938
0816-4622
DOI: 10.1080/08164622.2023.2197107
Popis: Corneal epithelial healing after refractive surgery is a clinically significant issue, especially for surface ablation procedures, and this can be monitored using optical coherence tomography (OCT). The aim of this work is to investigate the corneal epithelial thickness and irregularity by OCT after transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (t-PRK) and analyse its correlation with visual and refractive outcomes. Patients aged ≥18 years with myopia, with or without astigmatism, who underwent t-PRK between May 2020 and August 2021 were included. All participants were subjected to complete ophthalmic examinations and OCT pachymetry at every follow-up visit. Patients were followed up at 1 week and 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. A total of 67 patients (126 eyes) were enrolled in this study. One month postoperatively, spherical equivalent refraction and visual acuity achieved preliminary stability. However, central corneal epithelial thickness (CCET) and standard deviation of the corneal epithelial thickness (SDcet) took 3–6 months to progressive recovery. Patients with higher baseline spherical equivalent refraction were associated with slower epithelial recovery. At every follow-up time point, a significant superior-inferior difference in the minimum corneal epithelial thickness area was observed. Higher stromal haze was correlated with higher spherical equivalent refraction (both baseline and residual) but had no relation with visual outcomes. There was a significant correlation between higher CCET with a better uncorrected distance visual acuity and lower corneal epithelial thickness irregularity. CCET and SDcet measured by OCT seem to be a good auxiliary indicator for reflecting the status of corneal wound recovery after t-PRK surgery. However, a well-designed randomised control study is needed to confirm the study results.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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