Topical interferon alpha 2b for corneal haze after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy. The Melbourne Excimer Laser Group.

Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine whether topical interferon alpha 2b (IFN-alpha) prevents corneal haze after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). SETTING: Tertiary referral ophthalmic hospital. METHOD: A prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study of 31 patients was undertaken. After surgery in a single institution, patients received a drop of either a placebo or IFN-alpha (5 x 10(6) IU/ml) four times daily for 4 weeks. The main outcome measures were corneal haze, refraction, and visual acuity. RESULTS: The major side effect of interferon alpha treatment was a significant delay in epithelial healing by a mean of 2 days. The means of the average post-treatment clinical sc..