Effect of base curve radius of therapeutic lenses on epithelial healing after laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of the base curve radius (BCR) of therapeutic soft contact lens (T-lens) on epithelial healing after laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK).


METHODS
Ninety-two eyes in 47 patients with myopia were prospectively evaluated after LASEK. All the patients wore T-lenses with the BCR (R1) randomly chosen after LASEK. The T-lenses were removed after complete healing of the epithelial wounds. We calculated an estimated BCR (R2) from postoperative topography using a diopter conversion table. The patients were divided into two groups according to the differences between the BCR (R1) and the estimated BCR (R2). The flat fitting group was R1 > R2 (Group A), and the steep fitting group was R1<R2 (Group B). Patient's age, epithelial healing time, ablation amount, and BCR were compared between these two groups.


RESULTS
Group A (R1>R2) had 53 eyes, and Group B (R1<R2) had 39 eyes. Group A showed a shorter epithelial healing time than Group B (5.8+/-1.7 days vs. 6.7+/-2.1 days, p=0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
The flat fitting group showed a shorter epithelial healing time than the steep fitting group after LASEK.
Seo
Je Hyun
JH
Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Wee
Won Ryang
WR
Lee
Jin Hak
JH
Kim
Mee Kum
MK
D000328:Adult; D003263:Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic / Q000592:standards*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D049008:Keratectomy, Subepithelial, Laser-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013499:Surface Properties; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014945:Wound Healing