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.
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy. edoardo.midena@unipd.it
Edoardo
E
Midena
Catia
C
Gambato
Stefania
S
Miotto
Marta
M
Cortese
Rudy
R
Salvi
Alessandra
A
Ghirlando
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