Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is a corneal refractive surgical technique using

excimer laser. In transepitelial PRK (tPRK) ,relatively newer procedure of laser

refractive correction, the epithelium and stroma are removed in a single step.

Methods : A prospective study was conducted in 372 eyes consisting of 186 patients

were studied in a tertiary eye care hospital. Out of which 180 eyes underwent aaPRK

and 192 eyes underwent tPRK.Post operative healing was evaluated in all the patients

in  terms of pain ,epithelial healing and corneal haze.

Results :Pain was significantly lower in tPRK group compared to aaPRK on day 1

postoperatively.Epithelial healing was early in tPRK (86.97%) in 6 days compared to

aaPRK group  (23.32%). Corneal haze was less than grade 1 postoperatively at 1month

in tPRK  group (95.3%) compared to aaPRK group (89.64%)

Conclusions : Early postoperative epithelial healing is observed which inturn causes

less pain and crneal haze in transepithelial PRK group

compared to alcohol assisted PRK group