[Scattered light and glare sensitivity after wavefront-guided photorefractive keratectomy (WFG-PRK) and laser in situ keratomileusis (WFG-LASIK)].
OBJECTIVE
To compare glare sensitivity measured by the intraocular scattered light between WFG-PRK and WFG-LASIK at 12 months follow-up and to assess its correlation to patients' complaints.


METHODS
Prospective and randomized study on 13 patients treated with WFG-LASIK, 13 patients with WFG-PRK and a control group of 35 patients. The intraocular stray light was measured by the Oculus C-Quant 12 months after surgery and before surgery for the control group. Photopic and mesopic contrast acuity and glare symptoms were reported pre- and postoperatively.


RESULTS
Stray light values were normal in 79% of patients after WFG-LASIK and PRK and 86% in the control group, with mean values of 1.05 log, 1.03 log, and 0.99 log, respectively (p>0.05). All the patients with significant glare complaints had impaired stray light values versus 31.5% in the no-complaint group. Photopic and mesopic contrast acuity and glare symptoms were improved 1 year after surgery compared to preoperatively (no significant difference between groups).


CONCLUSIONS
WFG-LASIK and PRK are safe and equivalent procedures regarding quality of vision. The measurement of stray light can be a discriminative test to assessing patients' glare complaints.
Vignal
R
R
Navy Refractive Surgery Center, San Diego, California, USA. rodolphe.vignal@wanadoo.fr
Tanzer
D
D
Brunstetter
T
T
Schallhorn
S
S
D000328:Adult; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019466:Glare / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D010787:Photosensitivity Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000145:classification; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*