Consecutive myopia correction with transepithelial versus alcohol-assisted photorefractive keratectomy in contralateral eyes: one-year results.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the postoperative efficacy, safety, and higher-order-aberrations (HOAs) between transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and alcohol-assisted PRK in contralateral eyes.


METHODS
Private clinic, Utrecht, The Netherlands.


METHODS
Comparative case series.


METHODS
Consecutive patients were randomized to have transepithelial PRK in 1 eye and alcohol-assisted PRK in the contralateral eye. In both eyes, aspheric treatments were planned with Custom Ablation Manager software and ablations performed with the Schwind Amaris system. Clinical outcomes were predictability, refraction, visual acuity, wavefront aberrations, and contrast and glare sensitivity. Paired t tests were applied for statistics.


RESULTS
The study evaluated 66 eyes (33 patients). All patients completed the 1-year follow-up. At 1-year, 97% of eyes in both groups achieved an uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) of 0.1 logMAR or better. No eye lost 2 or more lines of corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA); 97% of transepithelial PRK eyes and 91% of alcohol-assisted PRK eyes were within ±0.50 diopter (D) of the targeted refraction. The postoperative mean spherical equivalent was +0.07 D ± 0.23 (SD) and +0.01 ± 0.27 D, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The CDVA, UDVA, and safety outcomes between transepithelial PRK and alcohol-assisted PRK were comparable. Profiles for both techniques applied to regular corneas preserved the eye's natural HOAs. Transepithelial PRK is faster to perform and it is an all-laser procedure, which might be less stressful for the patient.


BACKGROUND
Mr. Ewering and Mr. Arba-Mosquera are employees of Schwind eye-tech-solutions. Dr. Luger has no financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
VisionClinics, Utrecht, The Netherlands. luger@visionclinics.nl
Michiel H A
MH
Luger
Tobias
T
Ewering
Samuel
S
Arba-Mosquera
D000328:Adult; D019781:Corneal Topography; D057108:Corneal Wavefront Aberration / Q000503:physiopathology; D003646:Debridement / Q000379:methods; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000187:drug effects*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D054018:Lasers, Excimer / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy / Q000379:methods*; D012029:Refraction, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D012997:Solvents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
D012997:Solvents; D000431:Ethanol