High dose vitamin A and E oral supplementation may accelerate healing after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). - GreenMedInfo Summary
A randomised, double masked, clinical trial of high dose vitamin A and vitamin E supplementation after photorefractive keratectomy.
Br J Ophthalmol. 2001 May;85(5):537-9. PMID: 11316710
Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology--Otorhinolaryngology, University of Bari, Italy. [email protected]
AIM: To evaluate the effect of a high dose vitamin A and E supplementation on corneal re-epithelialisation time, visual acuity and haze following photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).
METHODS: Two groups of 20 patients who underwent myopic PRK were supplemented with either 25 000 IU retinol palmitate and 230 mg alpha tocopheryl nicotinate or a placebo. Clinical outcomes were evaluated up to 360 days.
RESULTS: In the vitamin treated group, re-epithelialisation time was significantly faster (p = 0.029) and haze incidence was reduced (p = 0.035), especially for high myopic corrections (p = 0.043). This group also reported a significantly better uncorrected visual acuity (p = 0.043).
CONCLUSIONS: High dose vitamin A and E oral supplementation may accelerate re-epithelialisation time and may reduce corneal haze formation after PRK.
