Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40103788›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in medicine2025

Management of delayed corneal epithelial healing after refractive surgery: five case reports.

Chunxiao Yan, Lin Jin, Qiaosi Zhang, Xiaoyu Liu, Taorui Yu, Fangkun Zhao, Yanan Mu, Jun Xu, Lijun Zhang

Abstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Chunxiao Yan *Department of Ophthalmology, The Third People's Hospital of Dalian, Dalian Municipal Eye Hospital, Dalian Municipal Cancer Hospital, Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Cornea and Ocular Surface Diseases, Liaoning Provincial Optometry Technology Engineering Research Center, National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Dalian, Liaoning, China.
Lin Jin *Department of Ophthalmology, The Third People's Hospital of Dalian, Dalian Municipal Eye Hospital, Dalian Municipal Cancer Hospital, Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Cornea and Ocular Surface Diseases, Liaoning Provincial Optometry Technology Engineering Research Center, National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Dalian, Liaoning, China.
Qiaosi Zhang *Department of Ophthalmology, The Third People's Hospital of Dalian, Dalian Municipal Eye Hospital, Dalian Municipal Cancer Hospital, Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Cornea and Ocular Surface Diseases, Liaoning Provincial Optometry Technology Engineering Research Center, National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Dalian, Liaoning, China.
Xiaoyu LiuDepartment of Ophthalmology, The Third People's Hospital of Dalian, Dalian Municipal Eye Hospital, Dalian Municipal Cancer Hospital, Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Cornea and Ocular Surface Diseases, Liaoning Provincial Optometry Technology Engineering Research Center, National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Dalian, Liaoning, China.
Taorui YuDepartment of Ophthalmology, The Third People's Hospital of Dalian, Dalian Municipal Eye Hospital, Dalian Municipal Cancer Hospital, Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Cornea and Ocular Surface Diseases, Liaoning Provincial Optometry Technology Engineering Research Center, National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Dalian, Liaoning, China.
Fangkun ZhaoDepartment of Ophthalmology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
Yanan MuDepartment of Ophthalmology, The Third People's Hospital of Dalian, Dalian Municipal Eye Hospital, Dalian Municipal Cancer Hospital, Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Cornea and Ocular Surface Diseases, Liaoning Provincial Optometry Technology Engineering Research Center, National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Dalian, Liaoning, China.
Jun XuDepartment of Ophthalmology, The Third People's Hospital of Dalian, Dalian Municipal Eye Hospital, Dalian Municipal Cancer Hospital, Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Cornea and Ocular Surface Diseases, Liaoning Provincial Optometry Technology Engineering Research Center, National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Dalian, Liaoning, China.
Lijun ZhangDepartment of Ophthalmology, The Third People's Hospital of Dalian, Dalian Municipal Eye Hospital, Dalian Municipal Cancer Hospital, Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Cornea and Ocular Surface Diseases, Liaoning Provincial Optometry Technology Engineering Research Center, National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Dalian, Liaoning, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy using Smart Pulse Technology (SPT-TransPRK) is currently the leading method for superficial refractive surgery, offering advantages such as a non-contact procedure, shorter operation times, and excellent patient cooperation. Laser ablation of the corneal epithelium, Bowman's membrane, and the stroma can effectively correct refractive errors. Thus, the complete healing of the corneal epithelium post-surgery is essential for ensuring good vision. Refractive surgeons should enhance their understanding of corneal wound healing mechanisms and focus on the repair of the corneal epithelium following refractive surgery to ensure the quality of visual health of patients. Case presentation: A total of five patients experienced varying degrees of delayed corneal epithelial healing following refractive surgery. In Case 1, unhealthy corneal epithelial debris was removed, and ophthalmic ointment was applied to cover the eyes instead of using bandage contact lenses (BCLs) to reconstruct the corneal epithelial barrier. This approach was also successfully implemented in Case 2. Furthermore, amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) can quickly establish a corneal barrier and promote corneal epithelial regeneration, especially in cases of extensive corneal epithelial detachment. The remaining three patients were suspected of having corneal viral infections based on their medical history and the observation of corneal pathology using a slit lamp microscope. To prevent further infection and promote regeneration, topical steroid drops were discontinued early, and topical antiviral and corneal epithelial regeneration medications were administered alongside systemic antiviral therapy. Steroid drops were resumed after corneal epithelial healing to effectively prevent post-refractive haze. Conclusion: Delays in corneal epithelial healing after refractive surgery should be taken seriously. BCLs, steroids, and both topical and systemic antiviral therapies should be properly utilized when there is a delay in corneal epithelial healing.

Indexed as

corneal virus infectiondelayed corneal epithelial healingpersistent epithelial defectsrefractive surgerytrans-PRK

Identifiers

PMID40103788
PMCPMC11913852

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.