title: Central photorefractive keratectomy for myopia. The blind eye study.
abstract: Prior to undertaking a study in sighted human eyes, we performed photorefractive keratectomy with the 193-nm excimer laser for the correction of myopia in nine legally blind eyes to evaluate safety, efficacy, predictability, and stability. In most cases, reepithelialization was complete by 5 days after surgery; no recurrent erosions were seen. By the end of the 6-month study, all of the corneas had a 0 or 1+ clarity score, on a scale of 0 (clear) to 5+ (opaque). Keratometry and pachometry demonstrated stable flattening of the corneas. One month after surgery, changes in refraction evaluated by retinoscopy showed fair predictability, with no significant increase in refractive or keratometric astigmatism, followed by some regression of effect by the end of the study, possibly caused by anatomical remodeling. The amount of regression appeared to be directly related to the amount of correction intended, suggesting that this effect would not be clinically important in the treatment of mild to moderate myopia.
authors.affiliation: LSU Eye Center, Louisiana State University Medical Center School of Medicine, New Orleans.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Frantz
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Klyce
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Beuerman
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Varnell
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Munnerlyn
authors.forename: T N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Clapham
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Salmeron
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Kaufman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001766:Blindness; D003315:Cornea / Q000166:cytology / Q000601:surgery*; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D012449:Safety; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing