Corneal cooling and rehydration during photorefractive keratectomy to reduce postoperative corneal haze

PURPOSE: An increase in corneal temperature has been implicated in subepithelial haze after surface photorefractive keratectomy. We aimed to determine if cooling the cornea by means of hydration between ablations and immediately after final surface ablation in PRK reduces haze. METHODS: One hundred five eyes of 61 patients with myopia ranging from -6.00 to -9.75 D were included. One of the surgeons irrigated with cool balanced salt solution between ablation passes and immediately at the end of the surface ablation while two others did not. Results of haze grading were analyzed at the end of 3 and 6 months and 1 year after PRK by an independent examiner. RESULTS: Haze was significantly reduced in those eyes in which irrigation (cooling) with balanced salt solution was performed intraoperatively and immediately after ablation. CONCLUSION: Cooling and rehydration of the cornea with chilled balanced salt solution between passes during PRK significantly reduces haze in patients with baseline myopia between -6.00 and -9.75 D.