title: Combined laser in situ keratomileusis and photorefractive keratectomy for extreme myopia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Current refractive surgical techniques, specifically photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for the correction of extreme myopia (more than -20.00 diopters) are unpredictable and undercorrections occur frequently. A combination of both techniques, used simultaneously or separately, expands their individual range, and allows correction of higher amounts of myopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Both eyes of a 24-year old female patient who had a spherical equivalent refraction of -37.00 -2.00 x 170 degrees in her right eye and -38.00 -2.00 x 180 degrees in her left eye underwent LASIK and PRK (transepithelial) at the same sitting, using the Chiron automated corneal shaper and the Chiron Technolas Keracor 116 excimer laser.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One month postoperatively, she had an uncorrected visual acuity of 20/100 in her right eye with a spherical equivalent refraction of +3.00 sphere and 20/200 in her left eye. One year after surgery she had an uncorrected visual acuity of 20/70 and a spherical equivalent refraction of +1.00 -1.00 x 30 degrees in her right eye and in her left eye 20/80 with a refraction of +1.25 sphere.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LASIK and PRK combined in a simultaneous procedure are an alternative for the surgical management of extreme myopia.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Americano de Oftalmologia, Colombia, South America. iao-88@inter.net.co
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Astudillo
authors.forename: C I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Ortiz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D005139:Eyeglasses; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery*; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D014792:Visual Acuity