Photorefractive keratectomy for low-to-moderate myopia and astigmatism with a small-beam, tracker-directed excimer...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Refractive Surgery
• Excimer Laser Technology

Background:

• Myopia and astigmatism are common refractive errors impacting visual acuity.
• Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is a surgical option for correcting these conditions.
• Advancements in excimer laser systems aim to improve safety and efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the Autonomous Technologies Corporation LADARVision excimer laser system.
• To assess its performance in correcting myopia and astigmatism via photorefractive keratectomy.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter, prospective, noncomparative case series involving 678 eyes.
• Treatments were performed using specific ablation zones for spherical myopia and myopic astigmatism.
• Key outcome measures included visual acuity, refractive error, corneal haze, and endothelial cell changes.

Main Results:

• High rates of uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) of 20/40 or better (93.4-98.1%) and 20/20 or better (61.2-72%) were achieved.
• Excellent refractive outcomes with 73.9-76.4% within 0.50 D of target correction.
• Refractive stability was observed within 3-6 months, with no significant loss of best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) or endothelial cell density.

Conclusions:

• The LADARVision excimer laser system demonstrates safety and effectiveness for correcting myopia and astigmatism up to 10 diopters.
• The procedure resulted in early refractive stability and high patient satisfaction.
• Minimal corneal haze and no adverse endothelial cell changes were noted at 12 months.