A preliminary clinical report of automated lamellar keratoplasty with excimer laser keratectomy for correction of high myopia.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the therapeutic effects of automated lamellar keratoplasty combined with excimer laser keratectomy (ALK-E) for the correction of high myopia.


METHODS
With the automated corneal shaper and Keracor 116 excimer laser, ALK-E was performed on 47 eyes of 40 cases with myopia of -8.00 to -30.00 diopters (mean, -14.55D +/- 5.14D) and the highest astigmatism 7.00D. Postoperatively, all patients have been followed up for at least 3 months.


RESULTS
The refractive status and visual acuity tend to be stable about 1 month postoperatively. For myopes below -15.00D, the mean refraction was -1.33D +/- 1.05D at 3 months, and 66.7% achieved their preoperative best corrected visual acuity. For myopes over -15.00D, the mean refraction was -2.42D +/- 1.84D at 3 months and 52.9% achieved their preoperative best corrected visual acuity.


CONCLUSIONS
The early therapeutic results of ALK-E for treatment of high myopia are very promising. However, the operative techniques, parameters and remote therapeutic results remain to be further studied.
Chen
J
J
Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou.
Wang
Z
Z
Yang
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery*; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy / Q000379:methods*; D014792:Visual Acuity