Results of reshaping with the 193-nm excimer laser

We report herein our experience with reshaping following primary photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). Reshaping was performed on 7 of 116 myopic eyes (6 patients) 6-12 months subsequent to initial treatment. We carried out reshaping on 5 eyes (4 patients) for either undercorrection or regression. The mean preoperative refraction was -6.9 D, and at 1 year postsurgery it was -0.3 D. At 6 months following reshaping, the mean refraction was -0.15 D and the average uncorrected visual acuity (VA) was 20/25. In one patient, retreatment was performed 6 months after initial PRK due to marked regression and deterioration of VA. At 9 months subsequent to reshaping, the VA had improved to 20/25 with spherical correction of -1.0 D. In another patient, the best corrected VA deterioriated from 20/40 (-13.5 D) to 20/80, with hyperopia of +3.5 D being combined with marked scarring. At 6 months following phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK), the VA had improved to 20/50, with spherical correction of +1.0 D. In conclusion, these observations demonstrate that reshaping is a satisfactory mode of treatment in certain indications.