A Prospective Study of the Effect of Topical Sodium Hyaluronate Immediately Post-PKP on Time to Reepithelialization

Hypothesis: 1% sodium hyaluronate (Healon), applied at end of surgery to the surface of a corneal transplant will not shorten graft reepithelialization time when compared to coating with nothing. We also wish to measure and compare visual acuity in this immediate post operative period. We also wish to assess the safety of using this agent on the epithelium post-operatively. We will recruit 50 high risk patients (see inclusion criteria) here at the University of Virginia to randomly receive nothing or sodium hyaluronate (Healon) on the ocular surface at the end of surgery, and follow time to reepithelialization of the corneal transplant grafts.