Evaluating the safety and efficacy of photorefractive keratectomy combined with corneal collagen crosslinking for the treatment of myopia and myopic astigmatism

Abstract

. resuLts. Mean BCVA was improved from 0.0075 ± 0.08 logMAR to 0.025 ± 0.05 logMAR postoperatively. Average keratometry reduced from 44.9 ± 1.9 D to 39.8 ± 3.9 D. Mean minimal corneal thickness reduced from 504 ± 16.7 μm to 405 ± 41 μm. None of the cases developed regression, corneal ectasia, or corneal haze. ConCLusions. Photorefractive keratectomy combined with high-fluence corneal collagen crosslinking (PRK XTRA) appears to be a safe and effective treatment for patients who are not good candidates for LASIK.

Clinical Outcomes of Transepithelial Photorefractive Keratectomy Performed with Smart Pulse Technology for the Correction of Moderate to High Myopia

“…The use of dextran-free HPMC riboflavin solution in the present study potentially resulted in a better crosslinking effect and little impact on corneal thickness [ 25 , 26 ]. PRK combined with CXL is known to cause apoptosis of keratocytes in the anterior stroma [ 27 ]. The lower incidence of corneal haze in the present study might also be attributed to the combined CXL treatment that induces apoptosis of keratocytes, thereby inhibiting the production of haze-causing extracellular substances by keratocytes [ 27 ].…”

“…PRK combined with CXL is known to cause apoptosis of keratocytes in the anterior stroma [ 27 ]. The lower incidence of corneal haze in the present study might also be attributed to the combined CXL treatment that induces apoptosis of keratocytes, thereby inhibiting the production of haze-causing extracellular substances by keratocytes [ 27 ].…”