The clinical observation of rhEGF on coneal epithelial rehabilltation after LASEK

Objective To evaluate the effect of ectogenous recombinant human growth factor eye drops(rhEGF) on cutting section corncal epithelium recovery after laser epithelial keratomileusis(LASEK)by observing postoperative inflammation clinically. Methods A randomized, double-blindly,comparison group controlled study enrolled 50 pstients(50eyes,all left eyes) for rhEGF group with therapy of rhEGF+0.1% fluorometholone+0.3% ofloxacin and 50 patients(50eyes,all left eyes) for controlled group with therapy of 0.1% florometholone+0.3% ofloxacin.Observeing pain,photophobia, tearing, foreign body sensation, conjunctival congest and corneal epithelial opacity were observed at 1, 2, 3 and 5 days postoperatively and scored as 0, 1, 2 or 3 respectively according to negative, slight, moderate or severe degree. Visual acuity was measured at 1, 2 and 3 weeks postoperatively. The corneal haze was exanined at 1,2 and 3months postoperatively. The band contact lenses were removed as early as possible from 5 days postoperatively. Results Postoperative inflammation of rhEGF group was significantly slighter than comparison group at 1 and 2 days postoperatively (P<0.05) Average time of removing contact lens was 5.5 days and 6.12 days for treated two group respectively. There was no difference on the time of achieving best visual acuity and haze between two groups. Conclusions rhEGF may relieve early inflammation postoperatively after LASEK and shorten the time of wearing contact lenses, beneficial to epithelium recovery from chemical and machinical injury. Key words: rhEGF ;  LASEK ;  Coneal epitheium ;