title: Refractive surgery in patients with retinitis pigmentosa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the refractive outcomes and safety of laser refractive surgery in a group of myopic patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a multicenter, retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series. A total of 32 eyes of 16 patients with RP with at least 18 months of follow-up were treated with laser refractive surgery (photorefractive keratectomy [PRK], laser subepithelial keratectomy [LASEK]). Refractive outcomes, complete eye examination, corneal topography, and retinal sensitivities were evaluated during follow-up. Mean follow-up was 28.3 months (minimum 18, maximum 50). Mean patient age was 29.6 years (range 24-54). Mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.75 preoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighteen months after surgery, mean uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) was 0.8+/-1 line (p=0.02); mean BCVA was 0.85+/-1 line (p<0.0005) with mean spherical equivalent of -0.16 D. Corneal complications were not detected during follow-up; corneal topography did not show corneal ectasia in any patient after surgery. During follow-up visits, no development or progress of macular edema was noted in any eye. Retinal sensitivities increased after surgery; there were no significant changes in electroretinogram amplitude.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mean UCVA and BCVA 18 months after surgery were higher than preoperative BCVA. All patients were safely treated without any significant complications. Our results support the safety of performing PRK and LASEK in patients with tapetoretinal degeneration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, A. Fiorini Hospital, Terracina, University of Roma La Sapienza, Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Enzo Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Vingolo
authors.forename: Pier Luigi
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Grenga
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meduri
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lupo
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grenga
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019781:Corneal Topography; D004596:Electroretinography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D049008:Keratectomy, Subepithelial, Laser-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy / Q000379:methods*; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D012174:Retinitis Pigmentosa / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity