[Corneal endothelial cell density and morphology after photorefractive keratectomy with mitomycin C]

ABSTRACT

To assess the short-term effect of Mitomycin-C [MMC] 0.02% on endothelial cell density and morphology after photorefractive keratectomy [PRK] in patients with moderate myopia. Forty-two eyes of 21 participants with moderate myopia [range, -4.0 to -8.0 D] underwent PRK with MMC 0.02% for 40 seconds. Specular microscopy was performed preoperatively and repeated 6 months after surgery to determine any change in central endothelial cell density [ECD], mean cell area [MCA], and coefficient of variation in cell size [CV]. Mean patient age was 26.2 +/- 6.3. Mean preoperative spherical equivalent refractive error was -5.2 +/- 1.2 D which was reduced to -0.4 +/- 0.5 D postoperatively [P < 0.001]. Mean ECD was reduced insignificantly from 2920 +/- 363 cells/mm2 preoperatively to 2802 +/- 339 cells/mm2 postoperatively [P = 0.59]. Similarly, there was no significant change in MCA [P= 0.76] or CV [P= 0.52] at six months. Intraoperative MMC 0.02% applied for 40 seconds during PRK for moderate myopia did not significantly change central corneal endothelial cell density and morphology after 6 months