title: Laser subepithelial keratomileusis for low to moderate myopia: 6-month follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effectiveness, safety, and stability of laser subepithelial keratomileusis (LASEK), a modified photorefractive keratectomy for low to moderate myopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study evaluated the results of LASEK in 48 myopic patients (84 eyes) with a consecutive 6-month follow-up period. Preoperative myopia ranged from 3.25 to 7.00 diopters (D). Uncorrected and corrected visual acuity, manifest refraction, epithelial healing time, postoperative pain, subepithelial corneal haze, and complications were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Uncorrected visual acuity of 20/30 or better was achieved in 78.6% of eyes at 1 week and in 96.4% at 6 months after surgery. A mean refraction of within +/-0.50 D was measured in 42 eyes (50.0%) and +/-1.0 D in 79 eyes (94.0%) at 6 months. The epithelial healing time was 3.68 +/- 0.69 days (range, 3-6 days) and postoperative pain scores were 1.49 +/- 0.65. The subepithelial corneal haze scores were 0.56 +/- 0.34 and 0.16 +/- 0.25 at 1 and 6 months, respectively. As for complications, alcohol leakage during surgery occurred in 3 eyes, incomplete epithelial detachment in 3 eyes, contact lens intolerance in 5 eyes and steroid-induced elevated intraocular pressure (>21 mm Hg) in 1 eye.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LASEK is an effective and safe procedure for low to moderate myopia. It can be considered an alternate type of refractive surgery for correction of low to moderate myopia.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seodaemoon-gu, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Bum
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chul-Myong
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Choe
authors.forename: Gong Je
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Seong
authors.forename: Ha Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Eung Kweon
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery*; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012449:Safety; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014945:Wound Healing