Table 4.

Comparison of the duration of each subjective symptom in three groups.

Epithelial removal technique	Group 1 (n: 18) (excimer laser t-PTK)	Group 2 (n: 27) (alcohol-assisted)	Group 3 (n: 20) (mechanical)	p value a
Duration of foreign body sensation (days)	1.90 ± 2.33 (0–7)	2.29 ± 2.42 (0–7)	2.50 ± 2.26 (1–7)	0.86
Duration of tearing (days)	1.0 ± 0.82 (0–2)	1.57 ± 0.98 (0–3)	0.80 ± 1.03 (0–3)	0.58
Duration of photophobia (days)	1.50 ± 2.37 (0–7)	4.00 ± 1.83 (2–7)	2.00 ± 1.31 (0–4)	0.04 b
Duration of burning sensation (days)	1.50 ± 1.65 (0–5)	2.43 ± 2.44 (0–7)	1.75 ± 1.28 (0–4)	0.58

t-PTK, transepithelial phototherapeutic keratectomy.

Results are described as ‘mean ± standard deviation (range)’.

^aOne-way analysis of variance.

^bStatistically significant.