Four techniques for retreatment after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy.
BACKGROUND
Retreatment should be considered for patients unsatisfied because of undercorrection and/or haze following excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for myopia. It is unclear if any specific type of retreatment is superior to another, especially in terms of post-treatment myopic shift and haze.


METHODS
After a mean follow-up of 12.4 +/- 5.5 months, we retreated 10 eyes by four different techniques following failed PRK: only PRK, PRK with phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK), only PTK, and mechanical scraping.


RESULTS
After a mean follow-up of 11.4 +/- 7.8 months (range, 6 to 28 mos), the final mean refraction was 2.40 +/- 2.00 D (range, 0 to -6.00 D). Corneal clarity improved in 70% of eyes. The mean uncorrected visual acuity improved from 20/200 to 20/40. Of the four retreatment techniques, only scraping proved ineffective, due to unstable outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
PRK alone, PRK with PTK, and PTK alone appeared safe and effective methods of retreatment, with no worsening of corneal clarity.
Spadea
L
L
University of L'Aquila, Department of Ophthalmology, Rome, Italy.
Bianco
G
G
Balestrazzi
E
E
D000328:Adult; D003315:Cornea / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000379:methods*; D012086:Reoperation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity