Influence of topical treatment on epithelial wound healing and pain in the early postoperative period following photorefractive keratectomy.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of topical treatment given immediately after photorefractive keratectomy.

Methods: A prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial was performed on 60 eyes from 60 patients to evaluate the effects of topical diclofenac, dexamethasone and placebo (BSS) on epithelial wound healing, inflammation and duration of pain in the 3 days following surgery.

Results: Topical diclofenac and dexamethasone as one group significantly retarded epithelial healing and presented a higher number of central islands than the placebo, 3 days after surgery.

Messenger RNA levels for genes involved in extracellular matrix from human corneal scrapings before and after photorefractive keratectomy.

Purpose: To measure the levels of mRNA for genes important in cellular and extracellular matrix regulation in human corneal epithelium before and after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in order to explain myopic regression following surgery.

Methods: Scrapings from 26 normal corneas before a first photorefractive keratectomy were randomly pooled in two samples of 16 and 10 scraping, respectively, and compared to another 23 scrapings from corneas with myopic regression after a previous photorefractive keratectomy, also randomly pooled in another 2 samples of 16 and 7 scrapings each. The scrapings were analysed for seven different messenger RNAs involved in extracellular matrix using competition-based quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction.

Effect of diclofenac on prostaglandin liberation in the rabbit after photorefractive keratectomy.

Background: An analyses of the concentration of arachidonic acid metabolites and the infiltration of leukocytes in the aqueous humour of rabbits after excimer laser keratectomy was performed. The ability of topical diclofenac to block prostaglandin E2 liberation into the aqueous humour was also investigated.

Methods: Photorefractive keratectomy was performed on both eyes of 60 New Zealand rabbits.

Anterior chamber flare after photorefractive keratectomy.

Background: The inflammatory reaction produced after excimer photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) remains to be clarified. In this study, we measured flare in the anterior chamber after excimer PRK as an indirect sign of postoperative inflammation.

Methods: Flare was measured in 25 eyes with a laser flare meter (Kowa FM 500) before and after excimer laser PRK.

Cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita and glaucoma.

A case of cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita (CMTC) is described in association with congenital glaucoma. Approximately 68 cases of CMTC and only four cases associated with glaucoma have been reported. The type of glaucoma seems to be related to an abnormality of the filtration in the anterior angle, due to increased pressure in the episcleral vessels.