Evaluation of Topical Cyclosporine in Preventing the Development of Corneal Haze after Photorefractive Keratectomy
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine if topical cyclosporine A, when added to the standard post-operative regimen, leads to a reduction in the formation of haze and better visual acuity outcomes in patients after photorefractive keratectomy. This randomized, controlled trial took 120 patients and randomized each to have one eye receive the standard regimen and the fellow eye receive the standard regimen with the addition of topical cyclosporine A twice daily for 6 months. Patients were followed for 1 year after surgery and, at each visit, had uncorrected visual acuity, best corrected visual acuity, slit lamp haze, and pentacam haze measured. Data were then analyzed using a paired T-test in Microsoft excel to determine significance. There were no statistically significant differences in any of the metrics measured in this study at any of the follow-up visits with the exception of the average time it took patients to reach 20/40 (legal to drive) vision. Eyes that received cyclosporine in addition to the standard regimen reached 20/40 on average at 1.8 weeks post-op, while eyes that received only the standard regimen took 1.9 weeks (p=0.04). While this is statistically significant, it is unlikely clinically significant with only 0.1 week difference on average between the 2 groups. This finding is important in that it demonstrates that the addition of topical cyclosporine (which some refractive surgeons often employ in their post-operative regiments) to our standard post-operative regimen does not improve visual outcomes out to 12 months after surgery and also does not decrease corneal haze. This is especially important because it provides evidence that topical cyclosporine does not provide a clinically significant advantage worth the additional cost of the medication.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 13, 2014
- Accession Number
- ADA602027
Entities
People
- Charles Reilly
- Matthew Caldwell
- Paul M. Drayna
- Vasudha Panday
Organizations
- 59th Medical Wing