Long-term follow-up of excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy

Purpose: To evaluate long-term follow-up results of excimer laser photother apeutic keratectomy (PTK) in a Japanese population. Methods: Twenty-six patients (31 eyes) with corneal opacity were treated wi th excimer laser PTK. Preoperative diagnoses included 16 eyes with band ker atopathy, 10 with granular dystrophy, and 5 with corneal scar. Mean postope rative follow-up was 27 months. Results: Corneal opacity was reduced in all patients. At postoperative mont h 12, best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) improved from the preo perative level in 22 eyes of 28 eyes, did not change in 3 eyes, and decline d in 3 eyes. BSCVA at month 24 was better than the preoperative acuity in 1 7 eyes of 23 eyes, similar in 1 eye, and worse in 5 eyes. Eyes with granula r dystrophy showed significantly better BSCVA improvement than those with b and keratopathy. A hyperopic shift of +1.0 diopter or more occurred in 14 e yes of 28 eyes at month 12 and in 12 eyes of 23 eyes at month 24. No seriou s adverse effects were encountered during the 3-year follow-up period. Conclusions: Excimer laser PTK is a safe and effective procedure for the tr eatment of Japanese patients with superficial corneal opacity. (C) 1999 Jap anese Ophthalmological Society.