EXCIMER LASER

PHOTOREFRACTIVE KERATECTOMY FOR 1.50 TO 3.50 DIOPTERS OF MYOPIA (SIX MONTHS FOLLOW UP)

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of excimer laser
photorefractive keratectomy for myopia in Pakistani people. Design: Prospective study. Setting: At Al-Shifa Trust Eye
Hospital Rawalpindi. Period: October, 1995 and Febrauray, 1996. Material & Methods: The study group of thirteen
patients, comprises of 25 eyes, with refractive error ranging from -1.50 to -3.50 D.S (diopters sphere) and less than
-1.50 D.C (diopters cylinder).Results: Thirteen eyes (52%) lost to follow up after three months. Only twelve eyes (48%)
could be reviewed at six months after photorefractive keratectomy. At one month, eleven eyes (44%) and at three
months, eight eyes (32%) were hypermetropic within +0.25 to +1.00 diopters of spherical equivalent .At six months only
three eyes (25%) had hypermetropia within +0.25 to +1.00 diopters spherical equivalent. None of the eyes had any
kind of astigmatism more than 1.00 diopter. No over correction of more than +1.00 diopter of spherical equivalent was
observed in any case. At one month, three months and six months after photo-refractive keratectomy, 88%, 80% and
100% eyes had 6/6 visual acuity respectively, without any optical aid. Hundred percent of the eyes showed complete
healing of the epithelium on third post operative day. Moderate to severe postoperative pain was experienced by every
one for three days with gradual reduction in intensity. Only one eye (8.33%) had grade 1 haze at six months. Rests
of the eyes were clear .No vision threatening complications occurred. Despite the short term follow up, photorefractive
keratectomy appears to be an effective and safe procedure with good predictability for the correction of low myopia.
Conclusion: Despite relatively short term follow up of the study; photo refractive keratectomy (PRK) appears to be safe
and quite predictable procedure for correction of low myopia.