Alcohol and mechanical scraping for epithelial ingrowth following laser in situ keratomileusis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the use of 70% isopropyl alcohol is useful as an adjunct to simple mechanical removal of epithelial ingrowth following laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).


METHODS
A retrospective comparison of two techniques of epithelial ingrowth removal following LASIK was performed. A total of 38 procedures on 31 patients were included. In one group, the epithelium was removed using a simple mechanical scraping technique and in the other, a similar technique combined with the application of 70% isopropyl alcohol was used. The rates of recurrence in the two groups were compared using a chi-square analysis.


RESULTS
The total incidence of epithelial ingrowth recurrence in both groups was 57.9% (22/38). The incidence of clinically significant ingrowth recurrence in both groups was 34.2% (13/38). In the scrape group, the recurrence of any ingrowth was 43.8% (7/16) and the recurrence of clinically significant ingrowth was 31.3% (5/16). In the alcohol group, these rates were 68.2% (15/22) and 36.4% (8/22), respectively. The difference between the two groups did not show statistical significance in either comparison (P=.14 and P=.75, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The use of 70% isopropyl alcohol showed no additional benefit over simple mechanical scraping in the removal and prevention of epithelial ingrowth recurrence following LASIK.
Lahners
William J
WJ
Center for Sight, Sarasota, USA. wjlahners@centerforsight.net
Hardten
David R
DR
Lindstrom
Richard L
RL
D019840:2-Propanol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003646:Debridement / Q000379:methods*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity
D019840:2-Propanol