Effect of Topical Beta-Blocker Eye Drops on Corneal Haze Formation After Photorefractive Keratectomy (prk): An Experimental Study

Abstract

Purpose: : Carteolol hydrochloride inhibited gel contraction significantly while keratocytes treated by carteolol hydrochloride reduced collagen type III mRNA production in vitro model (human keratocytes). The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of the application of topical carteolol hydrochloride (eye drops) after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) on haze formation in an experimental model.

Methods: : Sixteen eyes of eight rabbits underwent PRK for -6 diopters (D) in a 6 mm optical zone. Four right eyes received carteolol hydrochloride 4 times a day for a month (study group), 4 right eyes received mitomycin C (0.02%) for two minutes intraoperatively while eight left eyes treated with balanced salt solution (BSS) 4 times daily for a month (control group). Slit lamp examination for haze formation (Fantes’ classification) was performed at the first and third postoperative month while corneal confocal microscopy was performed at the third postoperative month.

Results: : At the first and the third postoperative month evaluation, a decrease of haze formation in the study group (cartolol eye drops) in comparison with control group (BSS) was found while there was no haze formation in MMC treated group. Respectively, confocal microscopy analysis showed no haze formation or activated keratocytes in anterior stromal in MMC-group while there was haze formation and activated keratocytes in the anterior stroma in both control (BSS) and study (carteolol) groups (less prominent in the carteolol group).

Conclusions: : Carteolol hydrochloride could reduce haze formation after PRK. Further studies are needed in order to confirm these results

Keywords: refractive surgery • refractive surgery: complications • refractive surgery: PRK