title: Randomized clinical trial of topical sodium hyaluronate after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sodium hyaluronate (Healon) has been reported to promote corneal epithelial healing following severe eye burns in humans and rabbits. Endogenous hyaluronate has been shown to be significantly increased in the corneal tissue following extracapsular lens extraction, anterior segment trauma, and radial keratotomy. The authors report the use of topical sodium hyaluronate administration on the cornea of eyes which have been treated by photorefractive keratectomy for myopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty eyes of 40 patients undergoing excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy for myopia were studied to evaluate the effect of topical sodium hyaluronate versus placebo (Healon buffer) instillation on pain and corneal epithelial healing in an observer blind randomized clinical trial.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference between patients whose eyes were treated with sodium hyaluronate and those treated with a placebo (Healon buffer), with regard to the amount of postoperative pain or the rapidity of corneal epithelial healing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topical sodium hyaluronate administration showed no effect on pain or corneal epithelial healing following photorefractive keratectomy in this study.
authors.affiliation: Eye Department, Mater Private Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Algawi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Agrell
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goggin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Keefe
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D003315:Cornea / Q000187:drug effects / Q000601:surgery*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid