Early Corneal and Epithelial Remodeling Differences Identified by OCT Imaging and Artificial Intelligence Between Two Transepithelial PRK Platforms.

PURPOSE

To analyze corneal and epithelial remodeling differences between SmartSurfACE reverse transepithelial PRK (SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions) and Streamlight (Alcon Laboratories, Inc) transepithelial PRK procedure using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and artificial intelligence (AI).

METHODS

This was a prospective, interventional, and longitudinal study. A contralateral eye study was conducted in which one eye was assigned to the SmartSurfACE group and the fellow eye was assigned to the Streamlight group. OCT was performed preoperatively and 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery. Uncorrected (UDVA) and corrected (CDVA) distance visual acuity and residual refractive error was measured only preoperatively and at 3 and 6 months. From OCT, curvature and aberrations of the air-epithelium (A-E) interface, epithelium-Bowman's layer (E-B) interface, and epithelium Zernike indices (EZI) were derived. Pain was evaluated at 1 day postoperatively using the Wong-Baker scale.

RESULTS

Both groups had similar UDVA, CDVA, residual refractive error, and changes in A-E and E-B curvatures at 3 and 6 months postoperatively (P > .05). However, many parameters indicated that the Streamlight group underwent a greater change in A-E aberrations, E-B aberrations, and EZI than the SmartSurfACE group postoperatively (P < .05). The EZI indicated a greater level of epithelial thickness distortion in the Streamlight group than in the SmartSurfACE group (P < .05). Using AI, the EZI were most indicative of remodeling differences between the two groups. Further, the pain was significantly greater at 1 day in the Streamlight group (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Early remodeling differences existed because the Streamlight procedure removed a greater amount of epithelium than the SmartSurfACE procedure. However, the visual and refractive outcomes were comparable. [J Refract Surg. 2020;36(10):678-686.].