One-year outcomes of a bilateral randomized prospective clinical trial comparing laser subepithelial keratomileusis and photorefractive keratectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To compare laser subepithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in different eyes of the same patients in terms of visual acuity, refractive error, and complications over 1 year.


METHODS
This prospective, randomized, double-masked study comprised 30 active-duty military personnel with myopia who underwent LASEK in one eye and PRK in the other eye.


RESULTS
Twenty-eight patients' results were available for 1-year follow-up. The primary outcome measures were visual acuity and refractive error. The mean visual acuity for the LASEK group was 1.56 and 1.67 for the PRK group (z = -0.18, P = .15). The mean spherical equivalent refraction for the LASEK group was -0.007 D and +0.124 D for the PRK group (t = 0.982, P = .40). No significant differences were noted in visual acuity or refractive error in the eyes that had LASEK versus the eyes that had PRK.


CONCLUSIONS
After 1-year follow-up, LASEK and PRK show similar levels of visual acuity and refractive error.
Pirouzian
Amir
A
Department of Ophthalmology, San Diego Children's Hospital, University of California, San Diego, Calif, USA. amirpirouzian@msn.com
Thornton
Jennifer
J
Ngo
Sieu
S
D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000379:methods*; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity