Wavefront-guided PRK treatment of myopia using a refractive aberrometer

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Refractive Surgery
• Vision Science

Background:

• Myopic refractive errors, with or without astigmatism, affect a significant portion of the population.
• Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is a common surgical option for vision correction.
• Advancements in aberrometry and laser technology aim to improve PRK outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety, effectiveness, and patient-reported outcomes of wavefront-guided PRK.
• To assess the correction of myopic refractive errors with and without astigmatism using this technique.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, nonrandomized clinical investigation involving 334 eyes (167 patients).
• Wavefront-guided PRK was performed using the STAR S4 IR Excimer Laser System and iDESIGN wavefront measurements.
• Patients had myopia up to -8.00 D sphere and -4.00 D cylinder, with a maximum spherical equivalent (SE) of -10.00 D.

Main Results:

• At 6 months, 99.4% of eyes achieved 20/20 or better uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA).
• 85.5% of eyes had manifest refraction SE within 0.50 D of target, with a mean SE of -0.06.
• Patient-reported outcomes showed significant improvements in vision-related functioning and high satisfaction (98%).

Conclusions:

• Wavefront-guided PRK using the iDESIGN aberrometer is a safe and effective treatment for low to moderate myopia with or without astigmatism.
• The procedure is predictable and leads to high levels of patient satisfaction.
• This technology offers a reliable option for refractive error correction.