Effect of Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor on Corneal Epithelial Healing After Photorefractive Keratectomy

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) eye drops on corneal epithelial healing after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). METHODS: One hundred patients treated with PRK for myopia were enrolled in this prospective, randomized study. Fifty patients were treated postoperatively with standard topical therapy and bFGF eye drops and 50 patients, used as controls, received standard postoperative therapy plus placebo (saline drops). Postoperatively, patients were examined daily until the epithelium healed. The velocity of resurfacing was recorded. Corneal clarity, visual acuity, and refraction were evaluated during the 3-month postoperative period. RESULTS: Complete epithelial healing was observed starting at postoperative day 3 in 46% of eyes in the bFGF group and 14% of eyes in the control group. At day 4, 98% and 72% of eyes in the bFGF and control groups, respectively, had healed. Five days after PRK, 100% of eyes treated with bFGF and 92% of control eyes achieved complete epithelial healing. In the control group, 98% of eyes healed at day 6 and all eyes completed healing at day 7. The difference in healing time was statistically significant ( P <.001). No statistically significant differences were noted for haze prevalence, uncorrected distance visual acuity, and spherical equivalent refraction after treatment between groups ( P >.05). No side or toxic effects were reported during the study. CONCLUSIONS: Basic fibroblast growth factor accelerates epithelial healing after PRK and could be used as additional treatment in circumstances of delayed healing.