Topography-controlled excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) controlled by videokeratography can successfully treat refractive errors in eyes with corneal irregularities and improve spectacle-corrected visual acuity.


METHODS
In a prospective clinical study, PRK was performed in 10 eyes of 10 patients. Reason for surgery was irregular astigmatism after penetrating keratoplasty, corneal irregularity after corneal scarring, corneal astigmatism in keratoconus, and decentration after myopic and hyperopic PRK. Excimer ablation was controlled by preoperative videokeratography (Orbscan II, Orbtek) using the MEL-70 system from Aesculap Meditec. Follow-up was 6 months.


RESULTS
Concerning manifest refraction, the sphere was reduced on average from +1.92 to +0.57 D, 6 months postoperatively. Cylinder changed from -1.95 D on average to -0.30 D at 6 months postoperatively. There was improvement of uncorrected visual acuity of 2 or more lines in 5 eyes and no change in 5 eyes 6 months postoperatively. Spectacle-corrected visual acuity improved in 2 eyes by 2 to 3 lines, in 9 eyes by 1 to 3 lines, and showed no change in 1 eye.


CONCLUSIONS
Videokeratography-controlled PRK improved refractive errors in irregular corneas with improvement of spectacle-corrected visual acuity.
Dausch
D
D
Augen-Laser-Klinik Nürnberg, Germany.
Schröder
E
E
Dausch
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019781:Corneal Topography; D005139:Eyeglasses; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006956:Hyperopia / Q000150:complications; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000150:complications; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating / Q000009:adverse effects; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000150:complications; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D014792:Visual Acuity