LASEK versus LASIK for the correction of moderate myopia.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the results of laser subepithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) and laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for the correction of moderate myopia.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective, single-masked, interventional study of 80 consecutive eyes. Forty eyes that had undergone LASEK to correct myopia of -2.0 to -6.0 D were compared with age and refraction matched patients treated with LASIK. All eyes had been operated by the same experienced surgeon using the same laser (Technolas 217). Mitomycin C was not used in any patient.


RESULTS
Eighty eyes were reviewed (40 treated with LASEK, 40 treated with LASIK). The preoperative mean sphere was -3.8 D (range -2 to -6D) and mean cylinder was -0.7 D (range 0 to -2 D) in both groups. Postoperative uncorrected visual acuity was worse in LASEK eyes 1 and 7 days postoperatively (p = 0.0001), although the difference 7 days postoperatively (<one letter) was not clinically meaningful. No significant differences were noted 3 months postoperatively either in the uncorrected visual acuity, in the best-spectacle corrected visual acuity, or in the residual refractive error. Nine LASEK-treated eyes showed a postoperative refraction of +1 D or more. These cases had a higher preoperative sphere (-4.5 D) compared with the nonovercorrected LASEK-treated eyes (-3.5 D) (p = 0.03). One eye after LASEK and four eyes after LASIK needed retreatment (p > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
LASEK and LASIK seem to be similar in terms of safety and efficacy for the correction of moderate myopia. Nevertheless, a trend toward overcorrection was found in the LASEK group in correlation with a higher preoperative refractive error.
Teus
Miguel A
MA
Vissum Madrid, and Department of Opthamology, Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain.
de Benito-Llopis
Laura
L
Sánchez-Pina
Jose M
JM
D000328:Adult; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D049008:Keratectomy, Subepithelial, Laser-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000379:methods*; D009216:Myopia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity