Long-term effects on corneal keratocytes of mitomycin C during photorefractive keratectomy: a randomized contralateral eye confocal microscopy study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the long-term side effects of mitomycin C (MMC) assisted photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) on corneal keratocytes of highly myopic eyes.


METHODS
Twenty-eight patients with bilateral myopia from -7.00 to -14.25 diopters (D) underwent PRK on both eyes, one eye of each patient received topical application of 0.02% MMC for 2 minutes immediately after the PRK procedure. Corneal keratocyte density was quantified by corneal confocal microscopy at baseline and 5 years postoperatively.


RESULTS
Photorefractive keratectomy reduced keratocyte density in the most anterior stromal layer, without a statistically significant difference between MMC and standard treated eyes. Posterior stromal layers showed no signs of keratocyte loss with either techniques.


CONCLUSIONS
Phototherapeutic keratectomy with 0.02% topical MMC has no significant side effects on corneal keratocytes compared to standard PRK, as documented by in vivo corneal confocal microscopy.
Midena
Edoardo
E
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy. edoardo.midena@unipd.it
Gambato
Catia
C
Miotto
Stefania
S
Cortese
Marta
M
Salvi
Rudy
R
Ghirlando
Alessandra
A
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D002452:Cell Count; D003315:Cornea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D003318:Corneal Opacity / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery; D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011182:Postoperative Care
D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors; D016685:Mitomycin