Results of photorefractive keratectomy for myopia with the technolas keracor 116 excimer laser.
BACKGROUND
The refractive results of first consecutive 157 myopic eyes undergoing photorefractive keratectomy with the Technolas Keracor 116 excimer laser are presented with a 6-month follow up.


METHODS
Preoperative refractive errors (spherical equivalent) ranged between -1.75 diopters (D) and -20.00 D (mean: -7.19 +/- 3.73). A single ablation zone ranging from 4.5 mm to 6 mm was used. In all eyes except for those with myopia over -15 D, emmetropia was a goal. Postoperatively patients used fluoromethalone drops for 1 month.


RESULTS
Treated eyes were divided into four groups based on preoperative myopia. Group 1 contained 15 eyes with myopia less than -3 D (93% were within +/- 1 D postoperatively). In Group 2 there were 53 eyes with preoperative myopia between -3.25 D and -6.00 D (64.1% were within +/- 1 D postoperatively). Group 3 consisted of 53 eyes with preoperative myopia between -6.25 D and -10.00 D (41.5% were within +/- D postoperatively). Group 4 contained 36 eyes with myopia over -10.00 D (13.8% were within +/- 1 D of attempted correction and 11.1% were within +/- 1 D postoperatively).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests that excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy using a 4.5 to 6.0 mm ablation zone effectively reduces myopia; however, predictability decreases as the attempted correction increases.
Kaskaloglu
M
M
Ege University, Department of Ophthalmology, Izmir, Turkey.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008297:Male; D008838:Microcomputers; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000145:classification / Q000601:surgery*; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D016896:Treatment Outcome