Early visual and clinical outcomes of transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy versus transepithelial keratectomy with smart pulse technology for myopia

The purpose of this study was to compare early visual outcomes, epithelial healing, and stromal haze between transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (Trans-PRK) using smart pulse technology (SPT) with traditional Trans-PRK. This study is a retrospective, comparative study conducted at a private eye center in "Riyadh, Saudi Arabia," investigating myopic patients who underwent either Trans-PRK with SPT (study group) or traditional Trans-PRK (control group). The patients were assessed preoperatively and followed up at 1 week and 2 months postoperatively. The main outcomes included uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corneal haze, and corneal epithelial defect. This study included 501 eyes, of them, 222 eyes (44.3%) underwent Trans-PRK with SPT. The UDVA in the study group was significantly better 1 week postoperatively ( < 0.05). For the 2-month follow-up visits, there was no significant difference between the groups. Epithelium healing and stromal haze were comparable in the two groups without significant differences between them. Transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy with SPT yielded better short-term visual outcomes than traditional Transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy.