PRK with sodium hyaluronate leads to faster re-epithelialization, less haze, surgeon says

BARCELONA — Results of photorefractive keratectomy can be enhanced by the application of 0.25% sodium hyaluronate solution during the procedure, according to a study by researchers in Poland.

"The use of a small amount of sodium hyaluronate solution smoothens out the corneal surface during PRK, leading to faster re-epithelialization, less haze, better visual acuity and improved visual quality," Ewa Mrukwa-Kominek, MD, said here at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons Winter Refractive Surgery Meeting.

Dr. Mrukwa-Kominek and colleagues analyzed 40 eyes of 20 patients who underwent PRK for myopia or myopic astigmatism. Investigators applied the 0.25% sodium hyaluronate solution to one eye of each patient. They then compared outcomes between eyes treated with or without the solution at 36 months follow-up.

The researchers found that eyes treated with sodium hyaluronate healed faster and had less haze — grade 0 to 1 vs. grade 0.5 to 2 for non-sodium hyaluronate-treated eyes, Dr. Mrukwa-Kominek said.

"There was no significant difference in spherical equivalent between the two groups, although a loss of one line of best corrected visual acuity was observed in only one eye in the group where we used sodium hyaluronate and in two eyes in the other group," she said.