title: Excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy: 12 months' follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the results of 12 months' follow-up of patients with myopia treated with excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study of patients undergoing excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy for myopia was commenced in September 1991. The study included 50 eyes (38 patients) with preoperative myopia of -1.50 to -6.00 dioptres and a maximum astigmatism of 0.75 dioptres.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-six (92%) of the 50 eyes had an uncorrected acuity of 6/6 or better at 12 months, and 49 eyes (98%) had 6/12 or better. No patients had lost their best corrected acuity at 12 months. Forty-five eyes (90%) were within 0.50 dioptres of emmetropia and 47 eyes (94%) were within 1.00 dioptre of emmetropia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy is a safe and predictable procedure for low to moderate myopia. It will increasingly be offered to patients as an alternative to the use of spectacles and contact lenses.
authors.affiliation: Sydney Refractive Surgery Centre, Mater Misericordiae Hospital, North Sydney, NSW.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lawless
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity