One year follow-up of epikeratoplasty for myopia

Eighteen surgeons performed 166 consecutive epikeratoplasty procedures to correct myopia in 103 patients. Of this total, 147 (89%) were first surgeries and 19 (11%) were repeat surgeries. First surgery patients were divided into three subpopulations based on preoperative spherical equivalents (low -5.00 diopters [D] to -9.49 D, medium -9.50 D to -14.00 D, and high greater than -14.00 D). The percentage of eyes with 20/40 or better best corrected visual acuity before surgery was 93% for the low group, 89% for the medium group, and 57% for the high group. The percentage of eyes with 20/40 or better uncorrected visual acuity at 12 months after surgery was 58% for the low group, 42% for the medium group, and 17% for the high group. The average and median spherical equivalent after one year was -1.40 D (2.45 SD) and -1.00 D, respectively; 41% of the eyes were within one diopter of emmetropia, 65% within two diopters, and 76% within three diopters. Clinically significant regression was only noted in low and medium myope groups under 25 years of age. Repeat surgery outcomes were equivalent to those in first surgery patients who had a single procedure.