This study was done to analyze corneal and epithelial remodeling differences between SmartSurfACE reverse transepithelial PRK (SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions) and Streamlight (Alcon Laboratories, Inc) transepithelial PRK procedure using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and artificial intelligence (AI).
This was a prospective, interventional, and longitudinal study. A contralateral eye study was conducted in which one eye was assigned to the SmartSurfACE group and the fellow eye was assigned to the Streamlight group. OCT was performed preoperatively and 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery.
The groups had similar UDVA, CDVA, residual refractive error, and changes in A–E and E-B curvatures at 3 and 6 months postoperatively (P > .05). However, many parameters indicated that the Streamlight group underwent a greater change in A–E aberrations, E-B aberrations, and EZI than the SmartSurfACE group postoperatively (P < .05). The EZI indicated a greater level of epithelial thickness distortion in the Streamlight group than in the SmartSurfACE group (P < .05). Using AI, the EZI were most indicative of remodeling differences between the two groups. Further, the pain was significantly greater at 1 day in the Streamlight group (P < .05).
The study concluded that remodeling differences existed but the visual and refractive outcomes were comparable.
Reference: https://doi.org/10.3928/1081597X-20200730-03
