title: Photorefractive keratectomy in patients with suspected keratoconus: five-year follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the long-range outcomes of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) using functional and topographic criteria in myopic eyes with suspected keratoconus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rothschild Foundation, Paris, France.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective interventional case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eyes of patients classified as keratoconus suspects or keratoconus by the Corneal Navigator software of the OPD-Scan II device were included. They were treated with myopic PRK using an EC-5000 excimer laser between 2004 and 2007. The main outcome measures were refractive stability, mean corneal keratometry, mean central pachymetry, mean thinnest point value, and the occurrence of postoperative complications such as corneal ectasia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study evaluated 62 eyes of 42 patients. The mean patient age was 34.6 years ± 15.1 (SD) and the mean spherical equivalent (SE), -3.96 ± 3.05 diopters (D). The mean central pachymetry was 529.4 ± 32.8 μm and the mean simulated keratometry, 45.75 ± 1.75 D. The percentage of similarity to keratoconus suspects or keratoconus was positive in all 62 eyes and exceeded a 50% similarity score in 30 eyes (48.4%). The mean follow-up was 4.8 ± 1.4 years. The mean magnitude of the SE was -0.53 ± 1.35 D over the follow-up. Two patients required glasses postoperatively because of significant myopic regression. No case of corneal ectasia was reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Photorefractive keratectomy in eyes with suspected keratoconus based on a Placido neural network may be safe and effective for myopia and astigmatism in carefully selected patients.
authors.affiliation: From the Rothschild Foundation (Guedj, Saad, Audureau, Gatinel), Hôpital Cochin-Hôtel Dieu (Guedj), and Center for Expertise and Research in Optics for Clinicians (Saad, Audureau, Gatinel), Paris, France.
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guedj
authors.affiliation: From the Rothschild Foundation (Guedj, Saad, Audureau, Gatinel), Hôpital Cochin-Hôtel Dieu (Guedj), and Center for Expertise and Research in Optics for Clinicians (Saad, Audureau, Gatinel), Paris, France.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saad
authors.affiliation: From the Rothschild Foundation (Guedj, Saad, Audureau, Gatinel), Hôpital Cochin-Hôtel Dieu (Guedj), and Center for Expertise and Research in Optics for Clinicians (Saad, Audureau, Gatinel), Paris, France.
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Audureau
authors.affiliation: From the Rothschild Foundation (Guedj, Saad, Audureau, Gatinel), Hôpital Cochin-Hôtel Dieu (Guedj), and Center for Expertise and Research in Optics for Clinicians (Saad, Audureau, Gatinel), Paris, France. Electronic address: gatinel@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Damien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gatinel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D063171:Corneal Pachymetry; D019781:Corneal Topography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000601:surgery*; D054018:Lasers, Excimer / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery*; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome