Effectiveness of Intraepithelial Photorefractive Keratectomy (IE-PRK) for Myopic Regression after LASIK

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of intreaepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (IE-PRK) for the treatment of myopic regression after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) METHODS: 38 eyes of 22 patients who had previous LASIK for myopia were selected and retreated with IE-PRK, in which a photoablation was performed directly in the epithelium without damage to Bowman's layer. All eyes were elapsed at least 6 months after the LASIK. Follow-up was up to 6 months and within +/-0.50 of emmetropia on 6 months after surgery was considered as a success. RESULTS: Before IE-PRK, the eyes regressed to a mean of .1.26+/-0.45 D spherical equivalent (SE). The mean SE at 1 week after IE-PRK was .0.44+/-0.88 D, 1 month was .0.59+/-0.45 D, 3 month was .0.63+/-0.41, 6 month was .0.62+/-0.43 (p<0.05). 23 of the 38 eyes (60.5%) had refraction within +/-0.50 and were considered as successfully treated. Preoperative mean best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.33+/-0.18 (Snellen equivalent) and final mean BCVA was 0.77+/-0.99 (p<0.01). There were no significant complications of corneal flap. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that intraepithelial photorefractive keratectomy appears to be a safe means for treating patients for regression after LASIK procedure. But success rate was not so good as the enhancement. Controlled studies with larger population will be necessary to evaluate the accuracy of the method more correctly.