Photorefractive keratectomy in keratoconus suspects

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Refractive Surgery
• Corneal Imaging

Background:

• Keratoconus is a progressive corneal ectasia characterized by irregular astigmatism.
• Corneal topography is crucial for diagnosing keratoconus and suspect cases.
• Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is a laser vision correction procedure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare refractive outcomes after PRK in keratoconus-suspect patients versus those with normal corneal topography.
• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of PRK in eyes with subtle signs of keratoconus.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study comparing 3 keratoconus-suspect eyes with a control group of normal eyes.
• Analysis of corneal topography (I-S value, central power), preoperative/postoperative refraction, and visual acuity.
• Comparison of refractive outcomes 1 year after PRK.

Main Results:

• Keratoconus-suspect eyes showed significantly higher preoperative I-S values (1.79 D vs. 0.35 D).
• One keratoconus-suspect patient had a significant central power difference between eyes (3.60 D).
• Refractive outcomes after PRK were comparable between keratoconus-suspect and control groups.

Conclusions:

• PRK appears to yield comparable refractive outcomes in keratoconus-suspect and normal eyes.
• Further investigation with larger cohorts and extended follow-up is warranted.
• Careful patient selection and topographical analysis are essential for refractive surgery.