A 24-year-old myope undergoes PRK. Three months later vision drops because of subepithelial corneal haze. Which agent, applied intraoperatively, is best documented to reduce this haze?

• A Balanced salt solution irrigation with a bandage soft contact lens alone
• B Triamcinolone acetonide injected into the deep stroma at the end of surgery
• C Riboflavin 0.1% soaked into the bed followed by UV-A exposure
• D Mitomycin C 0.02% applied to the ablated bed for a short duration ✓

Explanation

Corneal haze after surface ablation results from stromal keratocyte activation and disordered new collagen deposition. Intraoperative application of mitomycin C 0.02% to the ablation bed inhibits keratocyte proliferation and substantially reduces haze, especially after higher corrections and retreatments. Riboflavin with UV-D is cross-linking therapy for ectasia, not haze prophylaxis. Steroid drops are given postoperatively but intrastromal triamcinolone has no role, and a bandage lens alone does not prevent haze.

Reference: Yanoff and Duker, Ophthalmology, 5th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.