Longitudinal Epithelial Thickness Profile Changes 18 Months After Photorefractive Keratectomy

PURPOSE: Long-term evaluation of corneal epithelial thickness (ET) profile changes after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) using Fourier-domain anterior segment optical coherence tomography. METHODS: Three hundred twenty-six eyes of 163 patients were included in this prospective observational study. The corneal epithelial map was obtained across a 9-mm diameter area of the cornea before and up to 27 months after surgery. ET was assessed in 25 sectors and 4 annular zones (central 2 mm, paracentral 2-5 mm, midperipheral 5-7 mm, and peripheral 7-9 mm). RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in mean ET in all zones 1 month after PRK. Subsequently, ET increased in all annular zones. The change in mean ET became stable in the midperipheral and peripheral zones at 3 to 6 months and in the central zone at 12 months, and it continued to increase in the paracentral zone even after 18 months after surgery. The ET was 3.40 μm and 4.05 μm in the central and paracentral zones at 6 months, respectively. Postoperative spherical equivalent changed significantly only from 1 to 3 months (P < 0.04). There was a significant correlation between postoperative spherical equivalent at month 1 and ET change in the paracentral and midperipheral zones (P < 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant reduction in ET 1 month after myopic PRK with a gradual thickening thereafter until it reaches stability at 12 months in the central zone. However, it continues to change even after 18 months in the paracentral zone. The greatest thickening is in the paracentral zone, followed by the central zone.