title: Results one year after using the 193-nm excimer laser for photorefractive keratectomy in mild to moderate myopia.
abstract: As part of a clinical trial, photorefractive keratectomy using the VISX 2015 193-nm excimer laser was performed on 91 healthy eyes of 91 patients. Preoperative refractive errors (spherical equivalent) ranged from -1.00 to -7.50 diopters (mean, -4.16 +/- 1.41 diopters). No patient had more than 1 diopter of refractive astigmatism. Six months postoperatively, the average residual refractive error was +0.09 +/- 0.63 diopters (range, -2.13 to +1.63 diopters). Correction within 1 diopter of that attempted was attained in 85 eyes (93%). Uncorrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better was attained in 86 eyes (95%) and was 20/25 or better in 67 eyes (74%). At one year, follow-up information was available on 85 eyes of 85 patients. The average residual refractive error was -0.15 +/- 0.65 diopters (range, -2.50 to +1.63 diopters). Correction within 1 diopter of that attempted was attained in 85 eyes (93%). Uncorrected visual acuity was 20/40 or better in 83 eyes (98%) and was 20/25 or better in 68 eyes (80%). One patient lost three lines of best-corrected visual acuity because of corneal haze, dropping from 20/15 to 20/30, whereas all other patients returned to best-corrected visual acuity within one line of their preoperative best-corrected visual acuity. Photorefractive keratectomy with the 193-nm excimer laser appears to be a useful treatment modality for the reduction of mild to moderate myopia.
authors.affiliation: Phillips Eye Institute Center for Teaching and Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Talley
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Hardten
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Sher
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Doughman
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carpel
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Ostrov
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Lindstrom
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003315:Cornea / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity