title: Visual and refractive results of combined PTK/PRK in patients with corneal surface disease and refractive errors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the changes in symptoms, refraction, and visual acuity (VA) in patients with corneal surface disease and refractive errors who had phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) combined with photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).
  
  
  METHODS
  University-based referral practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with myopia or astigmatism and map-dot-fingerprint dystrophy or recurrent erosions were treated. The corneal epithelium was removed with a 64 blade, and laser was performed using a Visx Star S3 laser.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nineteen eyes of 14 patients were treated. Preoperatively, mean myopia was -3.76 diopters (D) (range -7.50 to -0.75 D), mean astigmatism was +0.96 D (range 0.00 to +2.25 D), and mean UCVA was 20/400. At 3 months, mean myopia was -0.53 D (range -1.75 to +0.75 D) (P<.001), mean astigmatism was +0.58 D (range 0.00 to +1.25 D) (P = .05), and mean uncorrected VA was 20/23 (P<.001). At 6 months, mean myopia was -0.31 D (range -1.00 to +0.75 D) (P<.001), mean astigmatism was +0.56 D (range 0.00 to +1.25 D) (P = .05), and mean uncorrected VA was 20/23 (P<.001). The change in astigmatism was confirmed by vector analysis. Only 1 patient lost 1 line of acuity, and all patients were asymptomatic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with myopia and astigmatism and symptomatic epithelial basement membrane disorders who had PTK/PRK had resolution of their symptoms and nearly achieved emmetropia. Therefore, this procedure is safe and effective for patients with corneal surface disease and myopia.
authors.affiliation: New York Medical College, Westchester Medical Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Valhalla, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Gerald W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Zaidman
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology