Sp. Amoils, Photorefractive keratectomy using a scanning-slit laser, rotary epithelialbrush, and chilled balanced salt solution, J CAT REF S, 26(11), 2000, pp. 1596-1604
Purpose: To evaluate photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) using a scanning-sli
t excimer laser combined with removal of the epithelium using a rotary epit
helial brush and prebrush and postoperative cooling of the cornea with chil
led balanced salt solution (BSS(R)).
Setting: Johannesburg Laser Center, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Methods: In a prospective study, 500 consecutive eyes with myopia ranging f
rom 1.00 to 12.75 diopters (D) and astigmatism up to 6.50 D were treated wi
th PRK using a Nidek EC-5000 scanning-slit excimer laser, removal of the ep
ithelium with a rotary epithelial brush, and prebrush and postlaser cooling
of the cornea with chilled BSS (4 degreesC to 6 degreesC). The mean follow
-up was 9.32 months (range 1 week to 39 months). Bilateral simultaneous PRK
was performed in 238 patients (95.2% of eyes).
Results: After 1 week, uncorrected visual acuity was 20/20, 20/25, 20/30, 2
0/40, 20/60, and 20/80 in 9.80%, 38.60%, 68.20%, 89.40%, 97.80%, and 97.20%
of eyes. After 6 months, in 405 eyes, it was 20/15, 20/20, 20/25, 20/30, a
nd 20/40 in 9.38%, 69.88%, 91.11%, 94.81%, and 98.52%. After 12 months, in
222 eyes, it was 20/15, 20/20, 20/25, 20/30, and 20/40 in 6.76%, 68.92%, 83
.78%, 91.89%, and 97.30%. After 18 months, in 95 eyes, it was 20/15, 20/20,
20/25, 20/30, and 20/40 in 6.32%, 69.47%, 88.42%, 91.58%, and 96.84%. Six
eyes (1.20%) required retreatment.
Conclusions: Scanning-slit laser PRK after rotary epithelial scrubbing and
prescrub and postlaser cooling allows accurate correction of myopia and ast
igmatism with minimal regression. J Cataract Refract Surg 2000; 26: 1596-16
04 (C) 2000 ASCRS and ESCRS.