PHOTOREFRACTIVE KERATECTOMY FOR RESIDUAL MYOPIA AFTER RADIAL KERATOTOMY

Purpose: To evaluate the results of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) to treat undercorrected radial keratotomy (RK). Setting: Institute de Oftalmologia Tadeu Cvintal, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Methods: A consecutive series of 28 eyes that had PRK to treat residual myopia after RK were studied. Refractive visual and safety data were collected and evaluate d. Results: One year after PRK, 75% of eyes had an uncorrected Visual acuity of 20/25 or better and 85%, 20/40 or better. All but one case m aintained or improved best corrected Visual acuity; one case decreased from 20/25 to 20/30. At 1 year, 75% of eyes were within 0.50 diopter (D) of emmetropia and 90% were within 1.00 D. Only one case was more t han 1.00 D undercorrected (-1.125 D) at 1 year. Mean pre-RK myopia was -5.90 D (range -2.00 to 11.80 D). Mean spherical equivalent improved from the residual postoperative level of -2.71 D +/- 0.86 (SD) before PRK to -0.21 +/- 0.86 D 1 to 3 months after PRK and to -0.40 +/- 0.43 D 1 year after PRK. Conclusion: Photorefractive keratectomy was effica cious in correcting residual myopia after RK in a group of selected pa tients.