Effect of homatropine eye drops on pain after photorefractive keratectomy: a pilot study

To assess the effect of homatropine eye drops on pain after photorefractive keratectomy [PRK]. This randomized, double masked, interventional study included 15 patients [30 eyes] who underwent bilateral PRK. After operation, patients received homatropine eye drops, 4 times daily in only one eye [homatropine eye]. The level of pain was evaluated using visual analogue scale [VAS], verbal rating scale [VRS] and pain rating index [PRI] at 0.5, 24 and 48 h after operation. The level of pain was statistically similar between the two eyes half an hour after operation, however, homatropine eyes had significantly less pain 24 h after operation compared to fellow eyes [2.5 +/- 1.9 vs 5.3 +/- 2.5, P = 0.004 for VAS, 2.0 +/- 1.2 vs 3.2 +/- 0.9, P = 0.023 for VRS, and 9.4 +/- 5.7 vs 16.0 +/- 9.0, P = 0.031 for PRI]. Also, 48 h after surgery, the pain scales were less in the homatropine eyes [2.3 +/- 1.7 vs 4.0 +/- 2.1, P = 0.014 for VAS, 1.6 +/- 1.0 vs 2.5 +/- 1.0, P = 0.038 for VRS, and 6.8 +/- 5.7 vs 12.0 +/- 8.9, P = 0.005 for PRI]. No delayed epithelial healing was observed. Homatropine eye drops may be useful for reducing pain after Photorefractive keratectomy

Anterior segment study with the Pentacam Scheimpflug camera in refractive surgery candidates

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anterior segment measurements according to refractive status in a sample of the Iranian population. Rassoul Akram Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. In this study, refractive surgery candidates were assigned according to the refractive error to one of three groups: emmetropia, myopia, and hyperopia. Myopic eyes were further divided to four Subgroups: simple myopic group, simple myopic astigmatism group, high myopic group, and high myopia with astigmatism group. Anterior segment measurements with the Pentacam Scheimpflug system were performed in the right eye of all subjects. The study sample was comprised of 283 subjects with a mean age of 29.1 +/- 7.5 [standard deviation] years. Mean keratometry reading, Anterior chamber depth [ACD] and volume measurements were significantly higher in the myopic group and mean keratometry reading and anterior chamber angle measurements were significantly lower in the hyperopic group [P < 0.05, all comparisons]. Maximum anterior elevation [AE[max]] and maximum posterior elevation [PE[max]], Q value, progression index, minimum corneal thickness, and corneal volume measurements were similar for all groups [P > 0.05, all comparisons]. In the myopic subgroups, AE[max] and PE[max] and maximum keratometry [K[max]] were significantly higher, and ACD was lower in the astigmatic groups [P < 0.05, all comparisons]. The Q value was less negative in low myopia [P < 0.05]. Myopic eyes had steeper corneas than hyperopic eyes and anterior chamber measurements were significantly higher in the myopic eyes. In myopic eyes, AE[max] and PE[max] and K[max] measurements were higher, and ACD measurements were lower in the astigmatic groups