Corneal Epithelial Remodeling Induced by Photorefractive Keratectomy Enhancement After Small-Incision Lenticule Extraction.

PURPOSE: To assess changes in corneal epithelial thickness (ET) within 9-mm diameter cornea after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) retreatment after small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE).

METHODS

A total of 28 eyes of 19 patients with mean spherical equivalent of -1.30 ± 0.60 D who underwent retreatment after SMILE were included in this retrospective study. ET mapped across a 9-mm diameter area was obtained using wide-field optical coherence tomography (OCT) before and at one, three, and six months after surgery. The ET changes were compared between the different time points and analyzed zones.

RESULTS

Before enhancement, the ET were 63.64 ± 6.01 µm and 61.25 ± 4.32 µm in central and paracentral zones, respectively. The ET of central and paracentral zones significantly decreased at one month and subsequently increased until six months. Six months after surgery, significant epithelial thickening occurred in 2- to 9-mm diameter cornea (all P < 0.05), whereas no significant change was observed in central 2-mm diameter cornea (P = 0.460). There was no significant difference in the ET between the central and paracentral zones (P = 1.00). The degree of myopic correction significantly correlated with the average ET in the central (P = 0.046) and paracentral (P = 0.033) zones at six months after PRK enhancement. No significant correlation was detected between the average ET of all zones and the postoperative spherical equivalent at six months after surgery (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

PRK enhancement did not alter the overall trend of corneal epithelial remodeling induced by SMILE. An asymmetric and flatter lenticule-like pattern of epithelial remodeling was observed six months after surgery, which did not affect the refractive outcomes.

TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE: An asymmetric and centrally flattened lenticule-like pattern of epithelial remodeling was observed after PRK enhancement. Surgeons should consider expanding the intended optical zones for enhancement surgery after SMILE.