Topical cyclosporine A for postoperative photorefractive keratectomy and laser in situ keratomileusis

PURPOSE: To compare the stability and predictability of the refractive outcomes in eyes treated with photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) or laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) with and without postoperative use of topical cyclosporine A emulsion. SETTING: Naval Medical Center San Diego Refractive Surgery Center, San Diego, California, USA. DESIGN: Randomized clinical trial. METHODS: Patients had PRK or LASIK and were randomized, pairwise, to a standard postoperative treatment regimen with or without the addition of topical cyclosporine A 0.05% emulsion twice daily for 3 months postoperatively. Visual acuity, mesopic contrast acuity, refractions, and ocular symptoms were assessed through the 3-month examination. Tear-film samples (cytokines and chemokines) were analyzed preoperatively and 1 week and 1 and 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The PRK group comprised 70 patients and the LASIK group, 54 patients. The addition of topical cyclosporine A twice a day after PRK or LASIK did not confer special benefits in terms of achievement of target refraction, final uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), or rate of visual recovery (all P>.05, multivariate analysis of variance [MANOVA]). There was no significant difference in tear-film composition based on measurement of matrix metalloproteinase-9, interleukin (IL)-6, or IL-8 recovery (all P>.05, MANOVA). CONCLUSION: The addition of topical cyclosporine A twice daily for 3 months after PRK or LASIK did not provide a significant benefit in the rate of visual recovery, final UDVA, or patient symptoms, nor did it significantly change measured inflammatory mediators (cytokines) present in the tear film.