title: Laser epithelial keratomileusis for myopia with the autonomous laser.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the refractive outcome, objective clinical data, and subjective patient experiences after laser epithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) at 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective, nonrandomized, comparative study of 58 LASEK-treated eyes (36 patients) with myopia (with and without astigmatism) between -1.50 and -14.75 D (mean -7.80 +/- 2.90 D, median -7.90 D). Refractive surgery was performed using the Alcon Summit Autonomous LADAR Vision excimer laser. Manifest refraction, best-spectacle and uncorrected Snellen visual acuity, stability of refraction, and corneal haze were evaluated before surgery and up to 6 months after surgery. A group of randomly selected LASIK-treated eyes were compared at each time point.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients who opted for monovision (n=12) were excluded. In the emmetropia targeted eyes (n=46), 45%, 83%, 85%, and 89% achieved 20/40 or better uncorrected Snellen visual acuity (UCVA) at 1 day, 1 week, 2 weeks, and 1 month respectively. At 6 months, 73% (n=28) of eyes treated achieved UCVA 20/20 with 97% achieving 20/40 or better (mean, -0.51 D). At 3 and 6 months, 71% (n=46) and 68% (n=28) were within +/- 0.50 D of emmetropia. The percentage of eyes that achieved UCVA 20/40 or better at 6 months was 97% (n=28). Visually significant corneal haze was evident in two LASEK-treated patients (four eyes) at 6 months. No eyes lost two or more lines of best spectacle-corrected Snellen visual acuity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preliminary data suggest that LASEK appears to be a safe, effective, and comparable alternative to LASIK, even for higher amounts of myopia. A prospective, randomized clinical trial is needed to better define the role of LASEK as it compares to other refractive procedures, specifically LASIK and PRK.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Medical Center, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Hermann Eye Center, Houston 77030, USA. rajyr@juno.com
authors.forename: Rajy M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Rouweyha
authors.forename: Alice Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Shrabanee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mitra
authors.forename: Chris B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Richard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Yee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000601:surgery; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity