Abstract
Purpose: :
To report the increasing trend of PRK among 5 refractive surgeons at a single academic institution.
Methods: :
Retrospective case review of 6675 refractive cases performed at the Moran Eye Center from January 01, 2002 to August 31, 2008. The proportion of cases that were PRK among the laser vision correction available was analyzed. Patient age, manifest refraction spherical equivalent, pachymetry at the thinnest location (CCT), topographic symmetry patterns, and reasons for PRK were also analyzed from sampling of 50 patients.
Results: :
Excluding all other refractive procedures, 5836 cases were either PRK or LASIK. 8% of the cases were PRK in 2002, 9% in 2003, 17% in 2004, 25 % in 2005, 45% in 2006, 54% in 2007 and exceeding LASIK cases at 115% in 2008. The reasons for the increase in frequency of PRK from our sampling were patients’ preference, surgeons’ recommendation, thin CCT’s, dry eye syndrome, anterior surface abnormalities, and glaucoma suspects. The average patient age for refractive surgery was 36 years (range 24 to 56 years). The average MRSE was -4.1 ± 1.90 diopters (D) (range: -1.25 to -8.35 D). The average CCT was 527 ± 21 µm (range: 480 to 578 µm). Asymmetric or borderline topographic patterns were seen in 21% of patients. 55% of patients choose custom ablation treatment.
Conclusions: :
Photorefractive Keratectomy has increased in frequency in one academic center where it has outnumbered LASIK procedures in 2008. With better techniques and advances in laser corrective surgery, the outcomes of PRK is similar to LASIK. Patients’ awareness of potential flap complications and dry eye syndrome has steered them away from LASIK as the procedure of choice.
Keywords: refractive surgery: LASIK • refractive surgery: PRK • refractive surgery: comparative studies