Corneal wound healing and pharmacology in excimer laser keratorefractive surgery for myopia

Millions of myopic people worldwide have undergone keratorefractive surgery since the introduction of radial keratotomy in 1973. Exciting new technologies, such as excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) or laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK), are being developed for use in keratorefractive surgery to reduce or eliminate the variations and inaccuracies inherent with manual surgical techniques and subsequently improve predictability. The ability to control precisely the refractive results of such surgical procedures, however, remains a problem and appears to be predominately influenced by interindividual variability in wound healing response. This article reviews the current knowledge of corneal wound healing and pharmacological regimens after PRK and LASIK and suggests some interventional strategies which might enable us to modulate more precisely the postoperative refractive results.