Can we utilize photorefractive keratectomy to improve visual acuity in adult amblyopic eyes?
OBJECTIVE
To report the results of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in adult amblyopic patients.


METHODS
Noncomparative case series.


METHODS
Thirty-eight amblyopic eyes of 36 adult patients who had undergone PRK ranging from -14.63 diopters (D) to +3.75 D (mean, -6.38+/-4.10) were analyzed.


METHODS
Preoperative and postoperative (1, 3, and 6 months) refractions and measurements of the best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) were reviewed. Statistical evaluation was performed using a paired Student's t test.


METHODS
Best-corrected visual acuity before and after PRK.


RESULTS
Before PRK, BSCVA ranged between 0.2 and 0.7 lines (mean, 0.60+/-0.13). One month after PRK, BSCVA ranged between 0.2 and 1.2 lines (mean, 0.77+/-0.24), with a significant difference (P = 3x10(-5)). Three months after PRK, BSCVA ranged between 0.15 and 1.15 lines (mean, 0.84+/-0.23), with a significant difference (P = 5x10(-7)). Six months after PRK, BSCVA ranged between 0.25 and 1.3 lines (mean, 0.88+/-0.25), with a significant difference (P = 8x10(-8)).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study does not imply that refractive surgery should or may be performed in young children but, rather, that adults wishing to undergo refractive surgery may undertake such procedures despite an amblyopic eye thought to be refractory to visual rehabilitation by conventional methods, such as spectacles and contact lenses.
Lanza
M
M
Eye Department, 2nd University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
Rosa
N
N
Capasso
L
L
Iaccarino
G
G
Rossi
S
S
Romano
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000550:Amblyopia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003315:Cornea / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy / Q000379:methods*; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*