title: Comparison of laser in situ keratomileusis and photorefractive keratectomy for the correction of myopia of -6.00 diopters or less. Melbourne Excimer Laser Group.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the safety and efficacy of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) compared to photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for the correction of low or moderate myopia (-0.50 to -6.00 D) at 6 months after surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population comprised a non-randomized consecutive series of 622 eyes of 392 patients who were treated with the Nidek EC-5000 excimer laser. LASIK was performed using the ACS Chiron microkeratome on 314 eyes and surface PRK on 308 eyes. All patients were treated using a standard protocol, then assessed at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-four percent of the LASIK group and 67% of the PRK group attended their 6-month examination. Eighty percent of patients (111 eyes) after LASIK and 65% (136 eyes) after PRK had an uncorrected visual acuity of 20/20 or better. Spherical equivalent refraction was within +/-0.50 D of intended refraction in 78% (109 eyes) for LASIK and 82% (170 eyes) for PRK. Loss of two more lines of best spectacle-corrected visual acuity at 6 months occurred in 1.4% (2 eyes) of the LASIK group and 1.0% (2 eyes) of the PRK group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At 1 month follow-up, the percentage of eyes that achieved 20/20 uncorrected visual acuity was greater in the LASIK group than in the PRK group. At 6 months, visual and refractive outcomes of LASIK and PRK were similar. Although flap related complications occurred only after LASIK, the overall risk of loss of best spectacle-corrected visual acuity was not significantly greater than for PRK.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Tole
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: McCarty
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Couper
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003315:Cornea / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000379:methods*; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D009216:Myopia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D012086:Reoperation; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity