title: Lasek for myopia: first results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK) for the treatment of myopia and astigmatism (low, moderate and high).
  
  
  METHODS
  Laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy was performed by 3 surgeons in 45 eyes using an INPRO Gauss Excimer laser (31 eyes) or a NIDEK EC-5000 Excimer Laser (14 eyes). The mean follow-up is 9 months (3-15 months). Preoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and corneal topography were measured. The postoperative parameters were: uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), spherical equivalent refraction (SER), defocus equivalent refraction (DER), and corneal topography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean preoperative sphere and cylinder were -4.09 diopters (D) +/- 1.94 D (range -1.25 D to -9.75 D) and -0.67 D +/- 0.55 D (range 0 D to -2.50 D) respectively. No eye lost 2 or more lines of BCVA. The UCVA was > or = to 20/20 in 56% of the cases and 20/40 or better in 100% of the cases. No eye developed corneal haze that affected visual acuity. No major complications were recorded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LASEK treatment is a safe and effective technique for treatment of low to high myopia. This surgical technique is less invasive and more effective than LASIK because of the lack of flap- and microkeratome-related complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Antwerp.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vandorselaer
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hermiat
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schraepen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Trau
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Tassignon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity