RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) has been used to treat myopia in human eyes since 1988. METHODS: We evaluated corneal ablation depth after excimer laser myopic photorefractive keratectomy with the Summit Technology ExciMed UV200LA laser. Preoperative refraction was: mean 9.58 diopters (D) +/- 2.01, (range 6 to 17). We used ultrasound pachometry (1640 m/sec) in 40 eyes of 33 patients. Mean follow-up was of 49.5 weeks (range 16 to 76). RESULTS: The measurement of the corneal thickness showed a reduction of the initial thickness followed by an inconsistent increase caused by wound healing and tissue proliferation. CONCLUSION: The data showed no direct correlation between diopters of refractive correction and the change in corneal thickness.