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Postoperative Pain Comparison Between Alcohol-Assisted and Transepithelial Photorefractive Keratectomy Using Nepafenac Treatment: A Novel Study

  • 0Department of Ophthalmology, Tel Aviv Medical Center and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, 6423906, Tel Aviv, Israel. nir.gomel1@gmail.com.
Ophthalmology and Therapy +

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October 3, 2024

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October 3, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (transepithelial-PRK) resulted in significantly less postoperative pain than alcohol-assisted photorefractive keratectomy (aa-PRK) when patients received preoperative nepafenac. Other symptoms like stinging and light sensitivity showed no significant differences between the two procedures.

Area Of Science

  • Ophthalmology
  • Surgical Innovation
  • Pain Management

Background

  • Postoperative pain is a significant concern following photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).
  • Nepafenac is a novel analgesic used preoperatively and postoperatively to manage pain.
  • Comparing pain outcomes between alcohol-assisted PRK (aa-PRK) and transepithelial PRK (transepithelial-PRK) is crucial for patient comfort.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To compare postoperative pain and associated symptoms between aa-PRK and transepithelial-PRK.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of preoperative nepafenac in mitigating pain after refractive surgery.
  • To assess differences in stinging, tearing, light sensitivity, and stress levels between the two PRK methods.

Main Methods

  • Retrospective analysis of 55 patients undergoing bilateral PRK.
  • Patients were divided into aa-PRK (27 patients) and transepithelial-PRK (28 patients) groups.
  • All patients received nepafenac preoperatively and postoperatively; pain and symptoms were assessed over 5 days using questionnaires. Statistical analysis included t-tests and Fisher's exact test.

Main Results

  • The aa-PRK group reported significantly higher postoperative pain levels (p=0.003).
  • No significant differences were observed in average stinging, tearing, or light sensitivity between the aa-PRK and transepithelial-PRK groups.
  • Stress levels decreased in both groups, with no significant difference between them by postoperative day 5.

Conclusions

  • Transepithelial-PRK offers a significant advantage in reducing postoperative pain compared to aa-PRK when nepafenac is administered as per protocol.
  • Nepafenac treatment effectively manages pain, but does not significantly alter other sensory experiences like stinging, tearing, or light sensitivity between the PRK techniques.
  • Both PRK methods, when combined with nepafenac, result in comparable stress levels and symptom profiles, except for pain intensity.

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