Corneal Epithelial Remodeling in a 6-Month Follow-up Period in Myopic Corneal Refractive Surgeries



Zhu, ManMan, Xin, Yue, Vinciguerra, Riccardo, Wang, Zheng, Warsame, Abdullahi Mohamud, Wang, Chong, Zhu, DaTian, Qu, ZhanXin, Wang, Pu, Zheng, XiaoBo
et al (show 6 more authors) (2023) Corneal Epithelial Remodeling in a 6-Month Follow-up Period in Myopic Corneal Refractive Surgeries. JOURNAL OF REFRACTIVE SURGERY, 39 (3). 187-+.

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Abstract

<h4>Purpose</h4>To investigate corneal epithelial thickness changes during a 6-month follow-up period after transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (tPRK), femtosecond laser-assisted laser in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK), and small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE).<h4>Methods</h4>This prospective study included 76 eyes of 76 participants who underwent myopic refractive surgery (23 FS-LASIK, 22 SMILE, and 31 tPRK). Epithelial thickness and anterior curvature were averaged over 4 regions (subdivided into 25 areas) and measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and Scheimpflug tomography before the operation (pre) and at 1 or 3 days (pos1-3d), 1 week (pos1w), and 1 month (pos1m), 3 months (pos3m), and 6 months (pos6m) postoperatively.<h4>Results</h4>The epithelial thickness of the three groups was similar in both the pre and pos6m (all <i>P</i> > .05), but the tPRK group fluctuated the most during the follow-up period. The largest increase was in the inferior-temporal paracentral area (7.25 ± 2.58 μm for FS-LASIK; 5.79 ± 2.41 μm for SMILE; 4.88 ± 5.84 μm for tPRK; all <i>P</i> < .001). Only the epithelial thickness of tPRK increased from pos3m to pos6m (<i>P</i> < .05), whereas all changes for FS-LASIK and SMILE were not significant (<i>P</i> > .05). A positive correlation of thickness changes with curvature gradient in the paracentral region of tPRK was found (<i>r</i> = 0.549, <i>P</i> = .018), but not in other regions in all groups.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Epithelial remodeling followed different trends after different surgeries from the early postoperative stage onward, but exhibited similar values at pos6m. Although remodeling after FS-LASIK and SMILE stabilized by pos3m, it remained unstable at pos6m after tPRK. These changes may affect corneal profile and lead to deviation from the intended surgical outcome. <b>[<i>J Refract Surg</i>. 2023;39(3):187-196.]</b>.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Corneal Stroma, Humans, Myopia, Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ, Follow-Up Studies, Prospective Studies, Visual Acuity, Lasers, Excimer
Divisions: Faculty of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 16 Jan 2023 10:15
Last Modified: 01 Mar 2024 02:30
DOI: 10.3928/1081597X-20230113-02
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3167046