Effect of short versus long-term steroid on corneal haze after photorefractive keratectomy: A randomized, double-masked clinical trial: Short versus long term corticosteroids following PRK.

PURPOSE To compare the effect of duration of fluorometholone 0.1% treatment on corneal haze after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) with mitomycin C (MMC) 0.02%. DESIGN Prospective, randomized, double-blind, clinical trial. METHODS Setting: Single center clinical trial. STUDY POPULATION A total of 252 myopic PRK candidates (252 eyes) aged 21 to 40 years with a mean spherical equivalent (SE) of ≤ 6 diopters (D) were randomized to receive one of the three corticosteroid regimens after PRK (group A = 1 month followed by 2-month placebo, group B = 2 months followed by 1-month placebo and group C = 3 months). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Corneal haze incidence, subjective SE, uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), and corneal densitometry. RESULTS The corneal haze incidence (grade ≥ 1) at 12 months was 1.35% (1/74 eyes) in group A and 0% in the other two groups. The mean anterior corneal densitometry (grayscale unit) was 21.19 ± 2.07, 21.09 ± 2.19, and 21.31 ± 2.21 in group A, B and C, respectively. The mean SE was 0 ± 0.09, 0 ± 0.11, and 0 ± 0.10 and UDVA (decimal) was 1 ± 0, 1 ± 0.01, and 1 ± 0 in group A, B and C, respectively. During 1-year follow-up, no statistically significant difference was observed in mean SE (p = 0.158), UDVA (p = 0.343) and anterior corneal densitometry (p = 0.109) at any stage between the study groups. CONCLUSIONS Long-term topical corticosteroids are not necessary following PRK with MMC for moderate myopia.