[The application of corticosteroid following photorefractive keratectomy]

Author(s): Li W, Wang H, Jiang X

Affiliation(s): Photorefractive Keratectomy Center, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, Changsha.

Publication date & source: 1997-01, Zhonghua Yan Ke Za Zhi., 33(1):16-8.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Comparative Study ; English Abstract; Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE: The application methods of corticosteroid following excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) were compared. METHODS: PRK was performed on 600 myopic eyes with Nidek-EC 5000 PRK System, and then randomly they were divided into group A (228 eyes) and B (372 eyes). Different methods of application of corticosteroid were performed in the two groups. The follow-up period was 6 months. RESULTS: After 6 months of follow-up, the rate of uncorrected visual acuity > or = 0.8 or > or = 1.0 was 97.9%, 93.2% in group A and 98.6%, 93.5% in group B, respectively. Transient ocular hypertension occurred in 2.2% in group A and 2.7% in group B, but the difference was statistically not significant (P > 0.05), the rate of haze greater than grade 1 was 18.4% in group A and 5.4% in group B, with statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: After PRK, the appropriate application of corticosteriod can effectively reduce the rate of haze formation and regression towards myopia caused by haze. Powerful corticosteroid used at postoperative early stage and its low concentration at later stage can reduce the incidence of corticosteroid ocular hypertension.