Corneal Epithelial Remodeling and Its Effect on Corneal Asphericity after Transepithelial Photorefractive Keratectomy for Myopia.
Purpose. To evaluate the changes in epithelial thickness profile following transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (T-PRK) for myopia and to investigate the effect of epithelial remodeling on corneal asphericity. Methods. Forty-four patients (44 right eyes) who underwent T-PRK were retrospectively evaluated. Epithelial thickness was measured using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography at different corneal zones (central, 2 mm; paracentral, 2-5 mm; and mid-peripheral, 5-6 mm) preoperatively and at 1 week and 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. The correlation between the changes in corneal epithelial thickness (ΔCET) and postoperative Q-value changes (ΔQ) was analyzed 6 months postoperatively. Results. Epithelial thickness at 6 months showed a negative meniscus-like lenticular pattern with less central thickening, which increased progressively toward the mid-periphery (3.69 ± 4.2, 5.19 ± 3.8, and 6.23 ± 3.9 μm at the center, paracenter, and mid-periphery, resp., P < 0.01). A significant positive relationship was observed between epithelial thickening and ΔQ 6 months postoperatively (r = 0.438, 0.580, and 0.504, resp., P < 0.01). Conclusions. Significant epithelial thickening was observed after T-PRK and showed a lenticular change with more thickening mid-peripherally, resulting in increased oblateness postoperatively. Epithelial remodeling may modify the epithelial thickness profile after surface ablation refractive surgery for myopia.
Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300020, China; Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin 300020, China; Tianjin Key Lab of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin 300020, China; Tianjin Eye Institute, Tianjin 300020, China; Jinan Mingshui Eye Hospital, Zhangqiu, Shandong 250200, China.
Jie
0000-0002-1775-3696
J
Hou
Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300020, China; Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin 300020, China; Tianjin Key Lab of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin 300020, China; Tianjin Eye Institute, Tianjin 300020, China.
Yan
0000-0002-1257-6635
Y
Wang
Jinan Mingshui Eye Hospital, Zhangqiu, Shandong 250200, China.
Yulin
0000-0001-8925-0898
Y
Lei
Jinan Mingshui Eye Hospital, Zhangqiu, Shandong 250200, China.
Xiuyun
X
Zheng
Jinan Mingshui Eye Hospital, Zhangqiu, Shandong 250200, China.
Ying
0000-0002-3911-2195
Y
Zhang
Cornea. 2013 Dec;32(12):1544-8
24145634
Ophthalmology. 2001 Jun;108(6):1082-7
11382633
Cornea. 2013 Nov;32(11):1493-8
24042485
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2009 May;50(5):2061-6
19151379
Am J Ophthalmol. 2014 Aug;158(2):293-301.e1
24792107
J Refract Surg. 2012 Mar;28(3):195-201
22301100
J Refract Surg. 2015 Jul;31(7):446-53
26186563
J Refract Surg. 2013 Mar;29(3):173-9
23446013
J Cataract Refract Surg. 2011 Oct;37(10):1852-7
21840678
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2002 Apr;43(4):941-8
11923232
Cornea. 2009 Aug;28(7):765-9
19574911
Eye (Lond). 2009 Sep;23(9):1845-50
19741718
Cornea. 2001 May;20(4):385-7
11333325
J Optom. 2015 Jul-Sep;8(3):149-69
25444646
Am J Ophthalmol. 2009 Aug;148(2):242-248.e1
19427620
Ophthalmology. 2012 Dec;119(12):2425-33
22917888
Am J Ophthalmol. 2003 Mar;135(3):267-78
12614741
J Cataract Refract Surg. 2007 Nov;33(11):1860-5
17964389
J Cataract Refract Surg. 2003 Apr;29(4):762-8
12686246
J Refract Surg. 2008 Apr;24(4):396-407
18500091
J Ophthalmol. 2015;2015:860313
26060579
J Refract Surg. 2007 Apr;23(4):385-92
17455834