title: Excimer laser in situ keratomileusis for myopia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and predictability of excimer laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for the correction of myopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-six consecutive eyes that had LASIK with the VISX 20/20B laser and Chiron corneal shaper were evaluated. Mean spherical equivalent of the preoperative manifest refraction was -9.40 +/- 3.78 diopters (D) (range, -3.50 to -19.75 D). The refractive effect (postoperative refraction minus baseline refraction), residual refractive error (refractive effect minus planned correction) and uncorrected and spectacle-corrected visual acuity were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean follow-up was 6.1 months (range, 3 to 9 mo). Spectacle-corrected visual acuity was unchanged in 39 eyes (84.78%), significantly improved in five eyes (10.86%), and worse in two eyes (4.34%). Uncorrected visual acuity was 20/20 or better in 15 eyes (32.6%) and 20/40 or better in 39 eyes (84.78%). Thirteen eyes (28.26%) had a postoperative spherical equivalent refraction within +/- 0.50 D and 36 eyes (78.26%) within +/- 1.00 D of attempted correction. No intraoperative complication occurred. Postoperative complications were few and not severe: three eyes (6.52%) developed regular astigmatism, two eyes (4.34%) had interface deposits, and three eyes (6.52%) had small epithelial cysts in the interface.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LASIK with the VISX 20/20B laser is safe, moderately effective, and relatively predictable for correcting myopia from -3.50 to -19.50 D. Predictability decreases with increasing myopia.
authors.affiliation: Centro di Laserchirurgia Oftalmica e di Microchirugia Oculare di Ivrea, Italy.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Pesando
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Ghiringhello
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tagliavacche
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D012449:Safety; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity