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. 2019 Oct 25;98(3):e352–e362. doi: 10.1111/aos.14275

Table 7.

Early and late postoperative complications in the three study groups

Complications

SCXL

N = 91

ACXL

N = 92

TCXL

N = 88

Management Fate
Photophobia, pain and watery eyes 37 (40.7%) 28 (30.4%) 2 (2.3%)
  • patient reassurance

  • oral analgesics (Ibuprofen)

  • frequent instillation eye drops

  • stay in dark room

Resolved in 24–48 hours
Delay in epithelial healing 17 (18.7%) 4 (4.3%) zero (0.0%)
  • stop topical steroid eye drops

  • check the presence of contact lens / change it

  • supportive treatment (Vitamins A and C)

  • frequent eye lubricants

  • topical nepafenac 0.1% eye drops t.d.s.

All eyes showed complete re‐epithelization in the 2nd week except 2 eyes in SCXL group
Persistent epithelial defect (PED) 2 (2.2%) zero (0.0%) zero (0.0%)
  • stop topical steroid eye drops

  • stop topical nepafenac 0.1% eye drops

  • removal of contact lens

  • supportive treatment (Vitamins A and C)

  • preservative‐free eye lubricants carboxymethylcellulose sodium solution 0.5%

One eye showed complete re‐epithelization with haze in the 3rd month. The other eye herald with remaining corneal oedema, haze and opacification
Corneal stromal opacity 1 (1.1%) zero (0.0%) zero (0.0%)
  • frequent topical steroid eye drops

  • Sodium chloride 5% eye drops

  • Carbomer 3 mg/g eye gel

The condition ended in permanent central corneal stromal opacity after 6 months with final CDVA 1.2 logMAR (preoperative CDVA 0.4 logMAR)
Corneal haze
57 (62.6%):
  • 18 eyes scale 1
  • 27 eyes scale 2
  • 14 eyes scale 3
21 (22.8%):
  • 11 eyes scale 0.5
  • 7 eyes scale 1
  • 3 eyes scale 2
zero (0.0%)
  • frequent topical steroid eye drops

  • preservative‐free eye lubricants carboxymethylcellulose sodium solution 0.5%

  • Sodium chloride 5% eye drops

All eyes showed complete recovery within 6 months except one eye in SCXL group that ended in permanent stromal opacity
KC progression zero (0.0%) 5 (5.4%) 25 (28.4%)
  • 22 eyes were retreated with SCXL while their LOCF data were conserved till end of the study

  • 8 eyes were retreated with SCXL after end of the study

The retreated eyes showed good stability till the end of the study