title: Immediate transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy for treatment of laser in situ keratomileusis flap complications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the role of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in the management of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) flap complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis was performed of seven patients (14 eyes) who had bilateral, simultaneous LASIK (single surgeon [TGA], Summit Apex Plus laser, Hansatome microkeratome in six patients [12 eyes], Automated Corneal Shaper keratome in one patient [two eyes]). One eye of each patient received PRK for a flap complication. The seven patients (four women, three men) had a mean age of 39.2 years (range, 22 to 64 yr). The uncomplicated LASIK eyes had moderate to high myopia (-2.25 to -8.75 D) and the eyes with LASIK flap complications had mild to moderate myopia (-1.50 to -5.75 D). Immediate transepithelial PRK was performed in all eyes after repositioning the defective flap.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All seven patients had excellent visual outcome at 6 months follow-up; one patient required an enhancement (astigmatic keratotomy). Six of the seven LASIK eyes had best spectacle-corrected visual acuity of 20/20 or better and one LASIK eye had 20/25. In the transepithelial PRK eyes, six of the seven eyes had best spectacle-corrected visual acuity of 20/20 or better and one eye had 20/30.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Immediate transepithelial PRK treatment of irregular and incomplete LASIK flaps at the time of surgery is an excellent therapeutic option to delayed surgical treatment.
authors.affiliation: Richmond Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, USA.
authors.forename: Vivek K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Thomas G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Abell
authors.forename: William I
authors.initials: WI
authors.lastname: Bond
authors.forename: Garth
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stevens
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000009:adverse effects*; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity