{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,27]],"date-time":"2026-08-27T14:21:31Z","timestamp":1787840491988,"version":"build-2784847793"},"reference-count":14,"publisher":"Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,24]],"date-time":"2025-02-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1740355200000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["lww.com","ovid.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is a commonly performed refractive surgery that has pain as one of the most encountered adverse effects postoperatively. Hence, topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly prescribed post-PRK. While there is conflicting evidence on their impact on delayed epithelialization, this is not a concern if the epithelium heals promptly with standard treatment. However, persistent epithelial defect (PED) is a serious problem that can lead to devastating complications. Here, we report on a patient with Vitamin D deficiency who underwent uneventful PRK. Despite receiving full-standard treatment, the patient developed a PED with no identifiable underlying cause. This case underscores the need to reconsider the routine use of NSAIDs post-PRK and suggests a potential link with Vitamin D deficiency.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.4103\/sjopt.sjopt_191_24","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,25]],"date-time":"2025-02-25T01:00:30Z","timestamp":1740445230000},"page":"88-91","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1097\/lww.0000000000001000","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Persistent epithelial defect following photorefractive keratectomy: A case presentation and review of contributing factors"],"prefix":"10.4103","volume":"40","author":[{"given":"Omar M.","family":"Alabbasi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Ophthalmology, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Medical City, Medina, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ma\u2019an A.","family":"Al Barri","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Ophthalmology, Taibah University, Medina, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sumayah A.","family":"Alzahrani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Ophthalmology, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Medical City, Medina, Saudi Arabia"},{"name":"Department of Ophthalmology, Ohud Hospital, Medina, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shatha A.","family":"Albadawi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Ophthalmology, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Medical City, Medina, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"276","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,24]]},"reference":[{"key":"R1-20260416","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2","DOI":"10.1076\/soph.18.1.2.14074","article-title":"LASIK versus LASEK versus PRK: Advantages and indications","volume":"18","author":"Ambr\u00f3sio","year":"2003","journal-title":"Semin Ophthalmol"},{"key":"R2-20260416","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"306","DOI":"10.1097\/ICU.0000000000000486","article-title":"Pain management after photorefractive keratectomy","volume":"29","author":"Golan","year":"2018","journal-title":"Curr Opin Ophthalmol"},{"key":"R3-20260416","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"59","DOI":"10.3928\/1081597X-20171128-01","article-title":"Pathophysiology of corneal scarring in persistent epithelial defects after PRK and other corneal injuries","volume":"34","author":"Wilson","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Refract Surg"},{"key":"R4-20260416","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2975","DOI":"10.1167\/iovs.13-13788","article-title":"Effects of Vitamin D receptor knockout on cornea epithelium gap junctions","volume":"55","author":"Lu","year":"2014","journal-title":"Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci"},{"key":"R5-20260416","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"478","DOI":"10.1016\/S0886-3350(03)00010-5","article-title":"Epithelial healing and ocular discomfort after photorefractive keratectomy in children","volume":"29","author":"Paysse","year":"2003","journal-title":"J Cataract Refract Surg"},{"key":"R6-20260416","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1727","DOI":"10.1016\/S0161-6420(98)99045-5","article-title":"Laser vision correction for low hyperopia. 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