Compare the effects of two silicone-hydrogel bandage contact lenses on epithelial healing after photorefractive keratectomy with anterior segment optical coherence tomography.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the efficacy of two silicone hydrogel bandage lenses (SiHy) on epithelial healing following photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) with anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT).

METHODS

Forty-two eyes of 21 patients who underwent PRK were included in a contralateral eye comparison study. At the end of the procedure, one eye of each patient was fitted with a Lotrafilcon B contact lens whereas the fellow eye was fitted with a Comfilicon A lens. Patients were examined on the day of surgery and at days 1-5 postoperatively. Main outcome measures were number of reepithelialized eyes, epithelial defect size, patient discomfort score and average complete reepithelization time.

RESULTS

The number of mean reepithelialized eyes was showed no statistical significance between both groups during the follow up. Average epithelial defect size for Comfilcon A and Lotrafilcon B was 32.7±12.2mm(2) vs. 33.3±12mm(2) at day 1 (p=0.279) and 13.1±6mm(2) vs. 14.5±9mm(2) at day 3 postoperatively (p=0.018). Average re-epithelialization time was 3.1 days for Comfilcon A and 3.6 days for Lotrafilcon B (p=0.03). Mean subjective discomfort score was 2.25±0.96 in eyes with Lotrafilcon B and 1.64±0.67 in eyes with Comfilcon A on the first exam the day after surgery and until third day the differences were statistically significant (p=0.011 and p=0.012, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

AS-OCT is a reliable and noncontact method for assessment of reepithelialization under contact lenses after PRK. Eyes with Comfilcon A showed a statistically significant better discomfort score and faster reepithelialization time.