title: Excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy: one year follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To confirm the effectiveness of the 193 nm excimer laser to correct low myopia (1.00 to 6.00 D), moderate myopia (6.00 to 10.00 D), and high myopia (10.00 D and above).
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred eighty-one eyes of 114 patients underwent excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). The minimum follow-up was 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After one year, 96% of the eyes in the low myopia group, 69% in the moderate myopia group and 29% in the high myopia group achieved uncorrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better with one treatment using a single application with a 5 mm optic zone. There were no significant major complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PRK is a safe, effective and relatively accurate procedure to correct low to moderate myopia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Sir Mortimer Davis Jewish General Hospital, McGill University Faculty of Medicine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Kwitko
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gow
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bellavance
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery; D003318:Corneal Opacity / Q000209:etiology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000601:surgery; D005469:Fluorometholone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006956:Hyperopia / Q000139:chemically induced; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D007498:Iris / Q000473:pathology; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000145:classification / Q000601:surgery; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D005469:Fluorometholone