Corneal Epithelial Healing Rates Post AST Refractive Surgery

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Corneal Epithelial Healing Rates Post AST
Refractive Surgery

• By
• Vikram Lekhi, BSc., MBT, Joint MD/MBA
• Dr. R. J. Mitchell MD

2
Background

• Advanced Surface Treatment has been a major
  advancement in Refractive Surgery.
• The main limitation to its widespread adoption
  in the past has been the notion of increased
  delays in healing times.
• In our practice patients were healed within under
  3 days which yields better outcomes for the
  patients.
• The purpose of this study was to measure the
  corneal epithelial rates to determine the true
  healing time.

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Purpose

• The goal was to measure the true corneal
  epithelial healing rates without the removal of
  the bandage contact lens.
• There should be no introduction of Anesthetic nor
  other variables which would alter the healing
  rates.
• The end goal is to dispel the myth that healing
  occurred over several days, and provide a healing
  rate average which could be used by
  Ophthalmologists to estimate healing delays.

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Methods

• Post routine AST Refractive surgery patients were
  followed by use of digital photography
• Each photograph one can discern the epithelial
  defect created by the microtome and monitor its
  closure.
• All photos were taken with the contact lens in
  place, without the use of dyes.
• All images were ran through imagepro plus to
  calculate the Area, Circumferance, Vertical and
  Horizontal healing changes.

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Results

• The final study had a total of 76 eyes
• It was apparent that horizontal healing was at an
  accelerated rate (1.2 times faster) than vertical
  healing.
• Mean full healing time was 53 hours.
• Range of healing times were from 42 hours till 73
  hours post operatively.

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Results - Sample

• Patient 26 hours Post AST Surgery

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• Patient Fully healed 46 hours Post AST Surgery

Results - Sample
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Results - Sample

• Fully Healed assessment confirmed by Fluorescein
  stain

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Conclusion

• Patients recieving AST Refractive surgery will be
  fully healed within 53 hours.
• No Patient reported any discomfort past this
  point
• It is safe to remove bandage contact lens after
  this point, once fully healed. Faster removal of
  the bandage contact lens reduces patient
  irritation and improves the overall surgical
  experience.