Corneal epithelial map after Photorefractive Keratectomy with and without mitomycin-C

Abstract Purpose: To compare epithelial thickness before and after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) with and without mitomycin-C (MMC).Methods: Forty eyes treated with PRK for low myopia (less than -4.00 D) and low astigmatism (less than -2.00) were included in this interventional case series. The right eye of each patient assigned to receive intraoperative topical MMC% 0.02 for 15 to 30 seconds and other eye received equally balanced salt solution (control group). Epithelial thickness profile was analyzed before and 6 months postoperatively.Results: Epithelial thickness map was analyzed in superior and inferior of the cornea within central 7 mm diameter. Maximum and minimum thickness was measured and the data were compared before and after PRK. The Superior, the inferior and the maximum epithelial thickness were significantly increased after surgery in both groups (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in epithelial thickness profile between case and control group at baseline and 6-month post PRK. Final distance corrected visual acuity was similar in two groups. No case of corneal haze was observed during 6 months follow up visits.Conclusion: Intraoperative MMC% 0.02 in PRK for low myopia patients did not change the epithelial thickness profile and refractive results, when compared with matched control eyes in 6 months follow up. It seems that MMC doesn’t have a statistically significant impact in epithelial remodeling based on this data set.