Intraoperative use of mitomycin c inhibites corneal haze formation after photorefractive keratectomy

Objective To evaluate the results of the intraoperative use of mitomycin to inhibit haze formation after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy(PRK)for high myopia in eyes and search for a better approaches to perform excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy for myopia.Methods The inclusion criteria were a spherical equivalent correction between-6.00 and-10.00 diopters(D)and inadequate corneal thickness to allow a LASIK procedure with a residual stromal thickness of more than 250 um.The eyes were divided into 2 groups according to the randomization protocol.After PRK,the study group comprised 80 consecutive eyes were treated with a single intraoperative dose of mitomycin(0.2 mg/mL),applied topically with a soaked microsponge placed over the ablated area and maintained for 2 minutes,and then the entire corneal surface was irrigated with balance solution.The control group comprised 76 consecutive eyes did not receive this treatment.Refraction,uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA),best corrected visual acuity(BCVA),corneal endothelial cell counts,and slitlamp evidence of corneal opacity(haze)or other visible complications were evaluated.Results No toxic or side effects were observed postoperatively.No study group eye had a haze rate higher than 1 during the 1 year followup;26 eyes(34.2%)in the control group did.At 1 year,the between group difference in the refractive outcome was statistically significant,with 70 study group eyes(87.5%)and 37 control group eyes(48.4%)within-0.50 D of the attempted correction.No study group eye had a BCVA loss during the follow-up;14 control eyes had lost 1 to 3 lines at 1 year.Conclusions It is safe and effective that the prophylactic use of a diluted 0.02% mitomycin solution applied intraoperatively in a single dose after PRK produced lower haze rates,better UCVA and BCVA results,and more accurate refractive outcomes than those achieved in the control group.