Delayed regression of effect in myopic epikeratophakia vs myopic keratomileusis for high myopia

We compared the effectiveness and stability of our first six consecutive myopic epikeratophakia procedures (mean follow-up 18 months, range 14 to 26) with our first four consecutive cryolathe myopic keratomileusis procedures (mean follow-up 28 months, range 14 to 35). Myopic keratomileusis reduced preoperative myopia (range -8.9 to -12.1 diopters) by 77% to 94% in four patients. Refraction and visual acuity remained stable for over 1 to 3 years. In contrast, only three of the six myopic epikeratophakia procedures had stable results. The remaining three eyes which were within 0.38 D of emmetropia at the time of suture removal showed a loss of effect, resulting in myopia worse than their preoperative values in two eyes and a small correction in one eye. Only one of the six eyes achieved an uncorrected visual acuity better than 20/200. We conclude that myopic keratomileusis may be the procedure of choice for treating individuals with myopia of -8 to -15 D, because the incidence of late regression of effect after myopic epikeratophakia using the techniques in this study is unacceptable.