Refractive surgery in patients with retinitis pigmentosa.
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.
Vingolo
Enzo Maria
EM
Department of Ophthalmology, A. Fiorini Hospital, Terracina, University of Roma La Sapienza, Roma, Italy.
Grenga
Pier Luigi
PL
Meduri
Alessandro
A
Lupo
Stefano
S
Grenga
Roberto
R
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