Postoperative Changes in Corneal Epithelial and Stromal Thickness Profiles After Photorefractive Keratectomy in Treatment of Myopia

Abstract To study the corneal epithelial and stromal thickness profile changes after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for myopia. Retrospective analysis of the postoperative corneal epithelial and stromal thickness profile changes in 46 left eyes of 46 patients treated with PRK for myopia. Corneal and epithelial thickness maps within the central 6 mm were obtained by anterior segment spectral-domain optical coherence tomography preoperatively and at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. Stromal thickness was calculated by subtracting the epithelial thickness from the total corneal thickness. Correlations between postoperative thickness changes and the amount of correction, treatment zone, and preoperative epithelial thickness were analyzed. Compared to preoperative values, the central 2 mm and the paracentral 2- to 5-mm zone epithelium was 5.20 ± 3.43 and 5.72 ± 3.30 µm thicker, respectively, at 3 months postoperatively (P