Broad beam vs. flying spot excimer laser: Refractive and videokeratographic outcomes of two different ablation profiles after photorefractive keratectomy

PURPOSE: To assess the refractive outcomes and videokeratographic patterns in photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) of two last-generation excimer lasers: broad beam and flying spot lasers. METHODS: Forty eyes were treated for a mean myopic correction of -5.59 +/- 2.17 D with a Ladarvision excimer laser (Autonomous Technology Corp). We co mpared the refractive outcomes and the videokeratographic patterns with tho se of 40 eyes treated with the Summit Apex Plus laser (Summit Technology In c) for a mean myopic correction of -5.60 +/- 2.24 D. RESULTS: During the 6-month follow-up, we found no significant difference i n uncorrected and spectacle-corrected visual acuity, haze grade, regularity index, or decentration. The eyes treated by Ladarvision showed a lower ref ractive error at I month (P = .04), a lower incidence of central islands at I (P = .003) and 3 months (P = .04), a wider mean effective ablation area at 1 (P = .0004), 3 (P =.0000009), and 6 months (P = .0000000004), a less s teep ablation edge at 1 (P = .0026), 3 (P = .015), and 6 months (P = .011). CONCLUSIONS: The small beam excimer laser provides better videokeratographi c outcomes, which lead to quicker refractive stability and better visual pe rformance.