Aims To evaluate long-term refractive stability of excimer laser myopic photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).
Methods A long-term (11 years) prospective follow-up study of visual and refractive outcomes of patients who underwent PRK surgery in 1994 and 1995. Forty-six patients (85 eyes) of the original cohort of 92 patients underwent detailed clinical assessment at 11 years.The main outcome measures were predictability, efficacy, stability and safety. Topography, pachymetry and postoperative complications were also recorded. Furthermore, all patientsreceived a questionnaire including 11items to report individual satisfaction.
Results At 11 years postoperatively, 56.5% of eyes were within ± 0.5D of attempted correction with 81.2% within ± 1.0D. Eighty-seven percent had a vision of 6/12 or better and 51.7% of 6/6 or better. Overall, there was regression of 0.72D in refraction towards myopia. Moderate and severe subsets showed a significant change between 3 and 11years. Best spectacle corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) was unchanged or improved in 90.6%. Eight eyes lost their BSCVA. Complications were rare and patient satisfaction with the surgery was high.
Conclusion Myopic PRK surgery shows predictable and stable results in terms of refractive and visual outcomes with slight regression in refraction which mainly lies in severe myopes. |