LONG-TERM RESULTS OF MYOPIC EPIKERATOPLASTY

Twenty-three eyes of 20 patients who had had myopic epikeratoplasty we re evaluated and the mean 21 -month postoperative results (range: 1 2 to 47 months) tabulated. Average preoperative myopia was -16.7 diopter s (D) spherical equivalent (range: - 1 0 to -33 D), and average postop erative refractive correction was 13 D. Of 22 eyes, 17 eyes (77%) were within 4 D of emmetropia. Preoperative visual acuities without correc tion were between 2/200 and 20/1 00 (average = 2/40); postoperative ac uities were between 2/200 and 20/20 (average = 20/40). Average preoper ative best corrected visual acuity was 20/30. Best corrected visual ac uities were unchanged or improved in 82% of cases. Re-epithelializatio n was complete within an average of seven days (range: three to 16 day s) postoperatively except in one case in which the lenticule was remov ed because re-epithelialization did not occur. Five cases showed progr essive loss of lenticular power.