Comparison of Pain between Ethanol-assisted Mechanical and Conventional Debridement of Corneal Epithelium in PRK.

Choi, Jaewan; Kim, Tae Im; Tchah, Hungwon

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 2004;45(3):390-395.
Published online March 1, 2004.

Comparison of Pain between Ethanol-assisted Mechanical and Conventional Debridement of Corneal Epithelium in PRK.

Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ulsan, College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. hwtchah@amc.seoul.kr

엑시머 레이저 각막 절제술에서 각막 상피 제거시 에탄올 전처치 후 물리적 제거술이 통증에 미치는 영향

최재완 ( Choe Jae Wan ) , 김태임 ( Kim Tae Im ) , 차흥원 ( Cha Heung Won )

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the effect on postoperative pain of the application of 20% ethanol before debridement of the corneal epithelium METHODS: During photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), performed on 44 eyes of 22 patients with mild to moderate myopia, 20% ethanol was applied on the eyes for 30 seconds just before debridement of the corneal epithelium. Meanwhile, conventional debridement of the epithelium was done on the fellow eyes. Patients were asked to evaluate their subjective postoperative pain after 3 hours, 1 day and 3 days. We measured epithelial healing time by the time of bandage contact lens removal. We also measured visual acuity and manifested refraction at 1 month after surgery. RESULTS: Significantly less postoperative pain was reported at 3 hours and 1 day after surgery in the eyes with ethanol applied. However, postoperative pain did not differ between the two groups at 3 days after surgery, nor did uncorrected visual acuity, manifested refraction at 1 month after surgery, or epithelial healing time. CONCLUSIONS: Application of 20% ethanol as pre-treatment in debridement of the corneal epithelium is beneficial in reducing postoperative pain in PRK.

Key Words: Epithelial debridement;Ethanol;Pain;Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)