The Role of Topical Vitamin A in Promoting Healing in Surface Refractive Procedures: a Prospective Randomized Controlled Study

Overview

Journal Clin Ophthalmol

Publisher Dove Medical Press

Specialty Ophthalmology

Date 2013 Oct 11

PMID 24109170

Citations 4

Authors

Elias Chelala

Ali Dirani

Ali Fadlallah

Sharbel Fahd

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the effect of topical vitamin A supplementation on corneal re-epithelialization time, postoperative pain, visual acuity, and haze following photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).

Patients And Methods: This prospective study included 32 patients. For each patient, one eye was randomized to the vitamin A group and the fellow eye to the non-vitamin A group (control group). Eyes in the vitamin A group received perioperative topical vitamin A (retinol palmitate, 250 IU/g VitAPOS eye ointment [AFT Pharmaceuticals Pty, Ltd, Sydney, NSW, Australia]) in addition to the classic treatment for PRK. Clinical outcomes were evaluated up to 3 months after PRK.

Results: There was no difference in the mean time to complete healing between the vitamin A group and the control group (3.36 ± 0.6 days in the control group; 3.42 ± 0.7 days in the vitamin A group; P = 0.854). Mean postoperative pain at the 48-hour visit was 4.35 ± 1.42 over 10 in the control group, and 4.42 ± 1.37 over 10 in the vitamin A group, with no difference between the two groups (P = 0.589). Subepithelial haze evaluated at 3 months postoperatively did not differ between the two groups (P = 0.960). Also, visual and refractive outcomes were not different between the two groups 3 months postoperatively.

Conclusion: Topical vitamin A supplementation did not affect re-epithelialization time, postoperative pain, corneal haze formation, or visual outcomes after PRK.

Citing Articles

Case report: Concomitant use of nightly vitamin A ointment with daily PROSE wear for ocular surface disease associated with chronic Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

Shlager G, Nakhla M, Pritchett D, Brocks D Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep. 2023; 32:101943.

PMID: 37915728 PMC: 10616137. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajoc.2023.101943.

Management of Corneal Haze After Photorefractive Keratectomy.

Moshirfar M, Wang Q, Theis J, Porter K, Stoakes I, Payne C Ophthalmol Ther. 2023; 12(6):2841-2862.

PMID: 37603162 PMC: 10640498. DOI: 10.1007/s40123-023-00782-1.

Xerophthalmia in Picky Eater Children.

Ifwat A, Liew O, Abdul Hamid H, Patrick S, Ab Ghani S Cureus. 2022; 14(3):e22846.

PMID: 35399490 PMC: 8980242. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.22846.

Corneal Regeneration After Photorefractive Keratectomy: A Review.

Tomas-Juan J, Murueta-Goyena Larranaga A, Hanneken L J Optom. 2014; 8(3):149-69.

PMID: 25444646 PMC: 4502084. DOI: 10.1016/j.optom.2014.09.001.

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