Excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy in Lebanon

We report on 50 eyes of 50 patients treated by photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) using the Summit Technology OmniMed excimer laser. Follow up ranged from 3 to 9 months, and the eyes were divided into three groups on the basis of the initial myopia (< 6.00 diopters (D), 6.00 D to 10.00 D, and > 10.00 D). Mean preoperative spherical equivalent refraction in each group was -4.15 D, -7.88 D, and -12.00 D respectively, and -0.24 D, -1.41 D, and -1.70 D postoperatively. Ninety percent in group 1, 56.25% in group 2 and 35.71% in group 3 had a final refraction within 1.00 D of the attempted correction. Complications consisted of one case of infectious keratitis, medically treated with no sequelae; one case of significant loss of spectacle corrected visual acuity related to corneal haze; and one case of corticosteroid-induced elevated eye pressure controlled with topical treatment. In this series, PRK appeared to be effective and safe for the correction of myopia of less than -6.00 D. For higher myopia, other methods of treatment should be used.