In order to facilitate the corneal stromal ablation in photorefractive keratectomy the epithelium is removed so corneal repair associated with changes in epithelium and stroma. To study the corneal epithelial thickness and pachymetry profile changes after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for myopia. Retrospective analysis of the postoperative corneal epithelial thickness and pachymetry profile changes in 22 eyes of 12 patients treated with PRK for myopia or myopic astigmatism. Corneal and epithelial thickness maps within the central 6 mm were obtained by anterior segment spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) preoperatively and at 3 months postoperatively. Correlations between pachymetry,epithelial thickness changes and the amount of correction,were analyzed.Compared to preoperative values,the central 2 mm and the paracentral 2 to 5 mm zone epithelium was 1 ± 2.85 and 1 ± 3.11 μm thicker,respectively,at 3 months postoperatively (P <.05). The spherical equivalent (SE) changed from-2.80 ± 2.028 diopters (D) preoperatively to -0.40 ± 0.42 D at 3 months postoperatively. Females show greater postoperative epithelial thickening, 2.6 ± 3.77 μm,than males,0.34 ± 1.98 μm. There was a trend toward greater epithelial thickening with a larger amount of programmed SE correction, and thinner preoperative epithelium. No correlation between epithelial thickness change and postoperative change in refraction was detected.Negative correlation between between age, refractive error,with the pre and post-operative pachymetry. In general female pachymetry reading is higher than it in male.The corneal epithelial thickness increased after PRK up to 3 months postoperatively. It was affected by the amount of myopia treated, gender, and preoperative epithelial thickness. The refractive outcomes did not affected by the postoperative epithelial thickening. Negative correlation between between age, refractive error, with the pre and post-operative pachymetry. In general female pachymetry reading is higher than it in male.
