title: Comparison between LASEK and LASIK for the correction of low myopia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the refractive results of laser epithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) and laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for the correction of low myopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, interventional, non-randomized, observer-masked study was performed of patients with myopia of < or = -2.50 diopters (D) (cylinder < or = 1.50 D) who had undergone either LASEK or LASIK. Refractive analysis was performed by a masked observer preoperatively and 1 day, 1 week, and 1 and 3 months postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-nine eyes that fulfilled the inclusion criteria in each group were included in the study. No statistically significant differences were noted in age, gender, or preoperative refractive error between groups. Postoperative uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) was significantly lower in LASEK eyes 1 and 7 days postoperatively (P = .0001). At 1 and 3 months postoperatively, no significant differences were noted between the groups in UCVA (P = .07), but best spectacle-corrected visual acuity 3 months postoperatively was significantly better in LASEK eyes (P = .01). The refractive error was similar in both groups (P = .3).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Visual improvement after LASEK for low myopia is significantly slower than after LASIK. Visual outcomes at 3 months postoperatively were similar with both techniques for the correction of low myopia.
authors.affiliation: Vissum Corporación Oftalmológica, Madrid, Spain. lauradeb@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Benito-Llopis
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Teus
authors.forename: Jose M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Pina
authors.forename: Jose L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hernández-Verdejo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D049008:Keratectomy, Subepithelial, Laser-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity