Effect of age on the refractive outcome of myopic photorefractive keratectomy

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Purpose To evaluate the effect of age on the outcome of myopic photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). Setting University-based refractive surgery practice. Methods A retrospective analysis of 197 eyes that had PRK for myopia was performed. Four groups of patients were compared: Group 1, patients <30 years (n = 35); Group 2, patients 31 to 40 years (n = 56); Group 3, patients 41 to 50 years (n = 47); Group 4, patients >50 years (n = 59). The percentage of eyes with an uncorrected visual acuity of 20/20 or better and 20/40 or better and the percentage of eyes with spherical correction within ±0.5 and ±1.0 diopter (D) of the attempted correction were derived for each age group. The percentage of patients overcorrected and undercorrected by 1.0 D or more in each age group was also calculated. Results The difference between the percentage of patients who achieved a visual acuity of 20/20 or better in Group 4 and in the younger groups was statistically significant at 3 months ( P = .02) but not at 6 months ( P = .70) and 12 months ( P = .55). The difference between the percentage of patients who achieved an acuity of 20/40 or better was not significant at any time. The difference between the percentage of patients who were within ±0.5 D of intended correction in Group 4 and in the younger groups was statistically significant at 3 months ( P = .001), 6 months ( P = .006), and 12 months ( P = .008); the difference between the percentage of patients who were within ±1.0 D of intended correction was not significant at any time. The difference between the percentage of patients overcorrected and undercorrected by 1.0 D or more in Group 4 and in the younger groups was not significant at any time. Conclusions In the 3 younger groups, age did not significantly affect visual outcome or predictability. However, there was a significant difference between Group 4 and the 3 younger groups in predictability of the refractive outcome at 3, 6, and 12 months. Age may play a role in the outcome of refractive surgery.