Combined laser in situ keratomileusis and photorefractive keratectomy for extreme myopia.

BACKGROUND: Current refractive surgical techniques, specifically photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for the correction of extreme myopia (more than -20.00 diopters) are unpredictable and undercorrections occur frequently. A combination of both techniques, used simultaneously or separately, expands their individual range, and allows correction of higher amounts of myopia. METHODS: Both eyes of a 24-year old female patient who had a spherical equivalent refraction of -37.00 -2.00 x 170 degrees in her right eye and -38.00 -2.00 x 180 degrees in her left eye underwent LASIK and PRK (transepithelial) at the same sitting, using the Chiron automated corneal shaper and the Chiron Technolas Keracor 116 excimer laser. RESULTS: One month postoperatively, she had an uncorrected visual acuity of 20/100 in her right eye with a spherical equivalent refraction of +3.00 sphere and 20/200 in her left eye. One year after surgery she had an uncorrected visual acuity of 20/70 and a spherical equivalent refraction of +1.00 -1.00 x 30 degrees in her right eye and in her left eye 20/80 with a refraction of +1.25 sphere. CONCLUSION: LASIK and PRK combined in a simultaneous procedure are an alternative for the surgical management of extreme myopia.

[Cigarette smoking and its relation to pregnancy and lactation in Arica (Chile)]. / Hábito de fumar y su relación con el embarazo y la lactancia en Arica (Chile).

Cigarette smoker and non smoker mothers from Africa, Chile, were followed along pregnancy and lactation and the influence of cigarette smoking on infant's birth weight and length of lactation was assessed from a sample of 240 pregnant women, 87 (36.3%) of them were actively smoking mothers and 33 among these (37.9%) smoked throughout all pregnancy and lactation. Mothers who smoked along lactation showed significantly shorter exclusive breast feeding time (2.6 month) in comparison with non smokers (3.5 month, p < 0.05) and their total lactation time was also reduced (4.2 vs. 5.3 months respectively, p < 0.01).