ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To assess effectiveness, safety and stability of laser epithelial keratomileusis(LASEK), versus conventional photorefractive keratectomy(PRK) for low to moderate myopia. METHODS: 27 patients with a manifest refraction of -3.00 to -6.50 diopters were treated and followed-up for 3 months. In each case, one eye received PRK and the other LASEK. The surgical method and the sequence between the eyes were randomized. Postoperative pain, epithelial healing time, uncorrected visual acuity, manifest refraction, corneal haze and surgical preference were examined after the operation. RESULTS: During a 3-month-follow-up, we found no significant differences in epithelial healing time, uncorrected visual acuity and refractive error. However, LASEK treated eyes had lower postoperative pain scores(P=0.047), and corneal haze scores(1 month; P=0.02) than those of PRK. Seventeen patients(63%) preferred the LASEK procedure. CONCLUSION: LASEK and PRK has an equal effect in correction of myopia, but LASEK reduced incidence of postoperative pain and early postoperative corneal haze. This suggests LASEK can be an alternative procedure for correction of low to moderate myopia.