Mechanical Versus Alcohol Epithelial Debridement During Hotorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)

Mechanical Versus Alcohol-Assisted Epithelial Debridement During Photorefractive Keratectomy: A Confocal Microscopic Clinical Trial

In this prospective randomized clinical trial, confocal microscopy was used to evaluate the effect of mechanical versus alcohol-assisted epithelial debridement during photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)on corneal cellular elements. Sixty-six eyes of 33 subjects with a spherical equivalent less than -4.00 D who completed all follow-up visits were evaluated.

Inclusion Criteria:

• spherical equivalent ≤ -4.0 D
• cylinder ≤ 1.50 D

Exclusion Criteria:

• history of ocular trauma or surgery
• any corneal and ocular pathologies
• central corneal thickness < 500 µm
• scotopic pupil diameter > 6.0 mm
• any abnormalities in corneal plain or elevation topographies favoring keratoconus or other ectatic disorders
• the presence of systemic disorders such as collagen vascular diseases