title: Effect of age on the refractive outcome of myopic photorefractive keratectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of age on the outcome of myopic photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).
  
  
  METHODS
  University-based refractive surgery practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of 197 eyes that had PRK for myopia was performed. Four groups of patients were compared: Group 1, patients < 30 years (n=35); Group 2, patients 31 to 40 years (n=56); Group 3, patients 41 to 50 year s (n=47); Group 4, patients > 50 years (n=59). The percentage of eyes with an uncorrected visual acuity of 20/20 or better and 20/40 or better and the percentage of eyes with spherical correction within +/-0.5 and +/-1.0 diopter (D) of the attempted correction were derived for each age group. The percentage of patients overcorrected and undercorrected by 1.0 D or more in each age group was also calculated. The difference between the percentage of patients who achieved a visual acuity of 20/20 or better in Group 4 and in the younger groups was statistically significant at 3 months (P =.02) but not at 6 months (P =.70) and 12 months (P =.55). The difference between the percentage of patients who achieved an acuity of 20/40 or better was not significant at any time. The difference between the percentage of patients who were within +/-0.5 D of intended correction in Group 4 and in the younger groups was statistically significant at 3 months (P =.001), 6 months (P =.006), and 12 months (P =.008); the difference between the percentage of patients who were within +/-1.0 D of intended correction was not significant at any time. The difference between the percentage of patients overcorrected and undercorrected by 1.0 D or more in Group 4 and in the younger groups was not significant at any time. In the 3 younger groups, age did not significantly affect visual outcome or predictability. However, there was a significant difference between Group 4 and the 3 younger groups in predictability of the refractive outcome at 3, 6, and 12 months. Age may play a role in the outcome of refractive surgery.
authors.affiliation: Doheny Eye Institute and the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Chuck
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: LaBree
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: McDonnell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003315:Cornea / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy; D012029:Refraction, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology