Abstract: Objective To investigate the causes and treatment of delayed corneal epithelial healing after trans-epithelial photorefractive keratectomy (TPRK). Methods A case of a young female with delayed corneal epithelial healing after TPRK for myopia was retrospectively analyzed. Results Delayed corneal healing is a rare complication in the early stage after TPRK. In this case, it caused symptoms such as pain, blurred vision, glare and tearing. Long-term wearing of contact lenses, meibomian gland dysfunction and postoperative use of drugs that inhibited epithelial growth were risk factors for this patient. After comprehensive treatment with bandage soft contact lenses, sodium hyaluronate, deproteinized calf blood extractive, glucocorticoids, ganciclovir ophthalmic gel and corneal epithelial debridement, corneal epithelium healed completely, but haze grade 1 was present in the delayed healing area on 22nd postoperative day. After follow-up treatment, haze disappeared and cornea returned transparent half a year later. Conclusions Patients with risk factors for delayed corneal epithelial healing after TPRK should undergo a comprehensive preoperative examination. Delayed corneal epithelial healing should be treated early and comprehensively, while alerting to haze and herpes simplex virus infection.

Key words: myopia, trans-epithelial photorefractive keratectomy, corneal epithelium defects