title: Comparison of early postoperative clinical outcomes of photorefractive keratectomy and lamellar epithelial debridement.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare early postoperative clinical outcomes of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and lamellar epithelial debridement (LED).
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Ophthalmology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study was of patients randomly assigned to have PRK or LED. In the LED group, an epithelial flap was created using an Amadeus II epikeratome. Postoperative follow-up was at 1, 3, and 7 days and 1, 3, and 6 months. The outcome parameters were uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), higher-order aberrations (HOAs), epithelial healing time, and corneal haze.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study comprised 39 patients (76 eyes). The mean preoperative spherical equivalent (SE) was -3.96 diopters (D) +/- 1.24 (SD) in the PRK group and -4.06 +/- 1.39 D in the LED group. Postoperative UCVA was significantly better in the LED group 1 day postoperatively. The UCVA was 20/20 or better in 14.6% in the PRK group and 42.9% in the LED group (P = .006); 20/25 or better in 41.5% and 82.9%, respectively (P = .000); and 20/40 or better in 80.5% and 100%, respectively (P = .006). On subsequent follow-up visits, the UCVA was comparable between groups. No eye lost lines of BCVA at 3 months. There was no difference between groups in postoperative SE refraction, HOAs, or corneal haze.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lamellar epithelial debridement and PRK had comparable safety and efficacy in the surgical correction of low to moderate myopia. The UCVA was significantly better after LED than after PRK 1 day postoperatively and equivalent thereafter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Ju
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Youm
authors.forename: Hungwon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tchah
authors.forename: Chul Young
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003646:Debridement / Q000379:methods*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D054018:Lasers, Excimer / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery*; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult