Excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy for 6.25 to 20.00 diopters of myopia - a six months follow up

ABSTRACT

To assess the efficacy and safety of excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy [PRK] for high myopia in Pakistani population. A prospective study Forty nine [49] laser-operated eyes were enrolled in this study with a refractive error ranged from -6.25 to -20.00 diopters. Range of the astigmatism was from -0.50 to -4.0 diopters giving an average of 0.93. Only 06 eyes [12.24%] did not turn up for final visit and 43 eyes [87.76%] eyes were followed till last visit at six months after photorefractive keratectomy. At one month, three months, and six months after PRK, 14.28%, 20.40% ,and 20.78% eyes achieved 6/6 visual acuity without glasses. It was found that 10 eyes [23.20%] were hypermetropic and another 10 eyes [23.20%] were myopic between 1 to 4 diopters spherical equivalent at six months postoperatively. Four eyes [09.28%] had spherical equivalent refraction between -6.00 to -8.25 diopters six months after PRK. Again 10 eyes [23.20%] presented with astigmatism more than +1.0 DC, whereas 11 eyes [25.52 %] with more than -1.0 DC at the end of six months. All the eyes presented with various degrees of corneal haze at six months follow up visit. No serious complication was reported. The short term follow up revealed PRK to be less effective for the correction of high myopia mainly due to corneal haze and regression of effect