Laser in situ keratomileusis for treatment of residual myopia after photorefractive keratectomy

PURPOSE: To evaluate the results of laser in situ keratomileusis after phot orefractive keratectomy. METHODS: Eighty eyes of 80 patients with residual myopia after photorefract ive keratectomy were reoperated with laser in situ keratomileusis. The stud y was retrospective. Laser in situ keratomileusis was performed using the a utomated corneal shaper microkeratome and Chiron Technolas 217-C dl excimer laser. Data measured after laser in situ keratomileusis included uncorrect ed visual acuity, best-corrected visual acuity, refraction, haze, pachymetr y, and keratometry. The follow-up was at least 12 +/- 1.6 months (range, 12 to 15 months). 0 RESULTS: After laser in situ keratomileusis the mean sphe rical equivalent was -0.24 diopters +/- 0.78. (range, -3 to +1.5) at 12 mon ths, and the mean uncorrected visual acuity was 0.76 diopters +/- 0.24 (ran ge, 0.1 to 1). Sixty-five eyes (81.3%) had various degrees of haze after la ser in situ keratomileusis. One eye (1.2%) lost 2 lines of best-corrected v isual acuity. CONCLUSIONS: Laser in situ keratomileusis enhancement may be a good alterna tive to correct residual myopia and astigmatism after primary photorefracti ve keratectomy. Corneal haze is a common problem in these eyes, and the tre atment after laser in situ keratomileusis enhancement should be the same as the treatment after primary photorefractive keratectomy. (C) 2001 by Elsev ier Science Inc. All rights reserved.