PHOTOREFRACTIVE KERATECTOMY FOR MYOPIA IN 98 EYES

Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) was performed on 98 consecutive norm al myopic eyes with the Summit OmniMed laser System. The minimum follo w-up was 3 months and 31 were followed for 6 months. Preoperative myop ia ranged from -1.25 to -12.00 D. The myopic eyes were divided into 4 groups according to the amount of myopia: group 1 (-1.25 to -3.00 D), 17 eyes; group 2 (-3.12 to -6.00 D), 42 eyes; group 3 (-6.12 to -9.00 D), 29 eyes and group 4 (>9.00 D), 10 eyes. In group 1 mean uncorrecte d visual acuity was 0.87 at 3 months, 1.0 at 6 months and all of the e yes were within 0.50 D of the attempted correction. In group 2 mean un corrected visual acuity was 0.76 at 3 months, 0.87 at 6 months and 92. 3% of the eyes were within 0.50 D of the attempted correction. In grou p 3 mean uncorrected visual acuity was 0.65 and 0.66 at 3 and 6 months respectively and 77.8% of eyes were within 0.50 D of the attempted re fractive correction. In group 4, mean uncorrected visual acuity was 0. 46 and 0.7 at 3 and 6 months, respectively, and 100% were within 0.50 D of the attempted correction. Two eyes lost 2 lines and 4 eyes gained 2 or more lines of their preoperative best spectacle corrected visual acuity. Three eyes exhibited steroid induced rise in intraocular pres sure that was controlled with topical timolol. No serious complication s occurred. Despite the short follow-up, photorefractive keratectomy w ith the 193 nm excimer laser appears to be an effective and safe treat ment for the correction of myopia.