Effects of topical corticosteroids after photorefractive keratectomy.

PURPOSE To assess the effects of topical corticosteroids (fluoromethalone) following photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). METHODS Both eyes of 654 patients had PRK with a minimum of 4 months between treatments. Topical corticosteroids were prescribed for one eye only. Endpoints were assessed by comparing the ratio of intended to actual refractive change in the corticosteroid treated eye with the fellow eye (no corticosteroid use). RESULTS The corticosteroid treated eyes showed a mean percentage correction of 95.7% compared to the untreated fellow eyes, which achieved a percentage correction of 103.3%-statistical significance of p = 0.00001. There was more of a trend toward regression in the corticosteroid treated eyes despite intervention with fluoromethalone. CONCLUSION Topical corticosteroids showed very little positive effect on regression of effect after PRK.