VISUAL FUNCTION ONE-YEAR AFTER EXCIMER-LASER PHOTOREFRACTIVE KERATECTOMY

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to investigate retrospectivel y the visual function of eyes 1 year after photorefractive keratectomy . METHODS: Visual function was assessed in 34 eyes of 22 patients who had undergone excimer laser surgery (Summit Excimed UV200). The mean t ime after surgery was 12.3 months. Twenty eyes of 20 age-matched norma l subjects served as controls. The following tests were used: high and low contrast logMAR visual acuity, Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity, and straylightmeter scores at 3.5-degrees and 10-degrees. RESULTS: Th ere was a significant difference between scores obtained for the photo refractive keratectomy population and the control (p<.001, ANOVA). Fif ty-six percent (18/32) of the excimer treated eyes fell outside the 95 % confidence limits of the normal data in at least one test of visual function; 22% (7/32) fell outside in at least 3 out of 5 tests. CONCLU SION: Some eyes showed reduced visual function 1 year after excimer su rgery compared to age-matched normal controls. These deficits can only be detected fully when psychophysical tests in addition to visual acu ity are employed.