Excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy: 12 months' follow‐up

Abstract

To report the results of 12 months' follow-up of patients with myopia treated with excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy. A prospective study of patients undergoing excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy for myopia was commenced in September 1991. The study included 50 eyes (38 patients) with preoperative myopia of -1.50 to -6.00 dioptres and a maximum astigmatism of 0.75 dioptres. Forty-six (92%) of the 50 eyes had an uncorrected acuity of 6/6 or better at 12 months, and 49 eyes (98%) had 6/12 or better. No patients had lost their best corrected acuity at 12 months. Forty-five eyes (90%) were within 0.50 dioptres of emmetropia and 47 eyes (94%) were within 1.00 dioptre of emmetropia. Excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy is a safe and predictable procedure for low to moderate myopia. It will increasingly be offered to patients as an alternative to the use of spectacles and contact lenses.