Photorefractive keratectomy for myopia in 98 eyes

Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) was performed on 98 consecutive normal myopic eyes with the Summit OmniMed laser System. The minimum follow-up was 3 months and 31 were followed for 6 months. Preoperative myopia ranged from -1.25 to -12.00 D. The myopic eyes were divided into 4 groups according to the amount of myopia: group 1 (-1.25 to -3.00 D), 17 eyes; group 2 (-3.12 to -6.00 D), 42 eyes; group 3 (-6.12 to -9.00 D), 29 eyes and group 4 (> 9.00 D), 10 eyes. In group 1 mean uncorrected visual acuity was 0.87 at 3 months, 1.0 at 6 months and all of the eyes were within 0.50 D of the attempted correction. In group 2 mean uncorrected visual acuity was 0.76 at 3 months, 0.87 at 6 months and 92.3% of the eyes were within 0.50 D of the attempted correction. In group 3 mean uncorrected visual acuity was 0.65 and 0.66 at 3 and 6 months respectively and 77.8% of eyes were within 0.50 D of the attempted refractive correction. In group 4, mean uncorrected visual acuity was 0.46 and 0.7 at 3 and 6 months, respectively, and 100% were within 0.50 D of the attempted correction. Two eyes lost 2 lines and 4 eyes gained 2 or more lines of their preoperative best spectacle corrected visual acuity. Three eyes exhibited steroid induced rise in intraocular pressure that was controlled with topical timolol. No serious complications occurred. Despite the short follow-up, photorefractive keratectomy with the 193 nm excimer laser appears to be an effective and safe treatment for the correction of myopia.