title: Correlation between automated and subjective refraction before and after photorefractive keratectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To ascertain whether autorefractometry after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) provides results that are comparable with subjective refractometry.
  
  
  METHODS
  The refractions of 159 eyes before and 1 month after PRK were determined with both automated and subjective refractometry, and the results of the two methods were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Before PRK, subjective spherical equivalent refraction ranged from -15.25 to +0.25 D (mean -5.30 +/- 2.64 D) and automated spherical equivalent refraction ranged from -16.13 to -0.50 D (mean -6.10 +/- 2.74 D), with good correlation (r2 = 0.965) between the two methods. One month after PRK, subjective spherical equivalent refraction ranged from -1.63 to +3.50 D (mean +0.98 +/- 0.78 D) and automated spherical equivalent refraction ranged from -2.50 to +3.00 D (mean +0.36 +/- 0.96 D) with poor correlation (r2 = 0.401).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Autorefractometry is less reliable in eyes after PRK, and consequently software changes are recommended for overcoming this problem.
authors.affiliation: Eye Department, 2nd University of Naples, Italy. nicrosa@tin.it
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.forename: Attilio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iura
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Verolino
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008875:Middle Aged; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D054140:Refractive Surgical Procedures; D014787:Vision Tests / Q000379:methods*