title: One-year outcomes of a bilateral randomized prospective clinical trial comparing laser subepithelial keratomileusis and photorefractive keratectomy.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, San Diego Children's Hospital, University of California, San Diego, Calif, USA. amirpirouzian@msn.com
authors.forename: Amir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pirouzian
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thornton
authors.forename: Sieu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ngo
mesh_terms: 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