MMC does not hinder epithelialization or induce adverse effects after PRK, study finds

Topical mitomycin-C does not appear to delay epithelialization or induce adverse effects 12 months after photorefractive keratectomy, a prospective study suggests.

"MMC induced a mean 0.47 D overcorrection (5.8% of attempted correction)," the author said. "All eyes treated with topical MMC had a haze grade [less than or equal to] 0.25."

Antonio Leccisotti, MD, PhD, evaluated 104 eyes of 52 patients who underwent PRK for myopia. After manual de-epithelialization and excimer ablation, patients were randomly assigned to receive either topical MMC 0.2 mg/mL or balanced salt solution on the stromal bed of either eye for 45 seconds. These patients had bilateral spherical equivalent between –6.5 D and –10 D, with a difference of 0.75 D or less between the two eyes; central pachymetry was more than 520 µm, with a difference of less than 20 µm between the eyes.

"Planned optical zone was equal in the two eyes," Dr. Leccisotti said.

At baseline, spherical equivalent averaged –8.07 D in the MMC group and –7.96 D in the control group.

Epithelialization time averaged 3 days in both groups, the researcher noted.

At 12 months, eyes in the MMC group had a mean spherical equivalent of 0.47 D and eyes in the control group had a mean spherical equivalent of 0.17 D (P < .05).

Mean haze was 0.02 in the MMC group and 0.19 in the control group (P < .05), according to the study, published in the April issue of Cornea.