Despite the success of laser refractive surgery to correct low order aberrations, the incidence of postoperative symptoms remains to be relatively high. |
In particular, estimates indicate that 53% of patients experienced at least one side effect within the first four weeks after surgery, as well as 22% experienced them six months after surgery, especially related to the inflammation and corneal healing.
These visual outcomes can reduce the quality of life of patients and are a key factor impacting the poor level of satisfaction of surgery.
Current treatments are antibiotic and corticosteroids, which however can have side effects, the former causing resistance while the latter causing delay in healing and worsening infections.
The risk of chronic dry eye after surgery is significantly high, especially in some ethnic group eyes due to racial differences.
Currently, there aren't available treatments to overall support corneal physiological healing and thus to reduce visual problems.