http://www.osnsupersite.com/view.asp?rID=23568

OSN SuperSite Breaking News 9/10/2007

Preop spherical equivalent, BCVA among possible risks for haze after PRK

STOCKHOLM, Sweden — Preoperative spherical equivalent and preop best corrected visual acuity are a few of the risk factors that may predict corneal haze after PRK, according to an ophthalmologist speaking here.

Alireza Peyman, MD, of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in Iran, presented the results of a study of 95 eyes of 50 patients with preoperative spherical equivalent refractive error of at least –6 D to an audience here at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting. The patients underwent PRK for myopia and myopic astigmatism and were followed for 8 months when they were evaluated for corneal haze formation.

Corneal epithelium was removed with ethanol 20% and standard surface ablation was performed with the Technolas 217z excimer laser, Dr. Peyman told the audience. He created a 6-mm optical zone in 80% of patients.

The results showed that at the 8 month follow-up, only 16% of patients were without haze, according to Dr. Peyman.