title: Comparison of laser in situ keratomileusis outcomes with the Nidek EC-5000 and Meditec Mel 70 excimer lasers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report refractive outcomes of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for myopia with and without astigmatism using the Nidek EC-5000 and Meditec Mel 70 excimer laser systems.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of refractive outcomes with each laser was conducted. Approximately 5700 eyes treated for myopia and myopic astigmatism were analyzed. Preoperative sphere ranged from -0.25 to -15.50 D and cylinder ranged from -0.75 to -5.50 D. All statistical analyses were performed by Datagraph med version 2.8 refractive analysis software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With the Nidek EC-5000 at 6 months after LASIK, mean spherical equivalent refraction was -0.24 D with 72% of eyes within +/- 0.50 D. In the Meditec cohort, the mean spherical equivalent was -0.54 D with 55% of eyes +/- 0.50 D.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Eyes treated for myopia and astigmatism with either of these lasers showed early refractive stability and similar efficacy. Higher incidences of epithelial ingrowth and haze were present in the Meditec treated eyes.
authors.affiliation: University of Western Ontario, London, Canada. merchea@uwo.ca
authors.forename: Mohan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Merchea
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pieger
authors.forename: Harkaran S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Bains
mesh_terms: D001251:Astigmatism / Q000601:surgery*; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery*; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity