Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the clinical results of epithelial laser in situ keratomileusis (epi-LASIK) in patients with high myopia and myopic astigmatism with a spherical equivalent of -6 to -8.0 dpt.
Methods: :
Retrospective case series of 107 eyes of 62 myopic patients (mean age 33.0 yrs +/- 10.6 [SD]) with a spherical equivalent of -6 to -8 dpt (mean -6.7 dpt +/- 0.7 [SD]) and myopic astigmatism of up to 2 dpt underwent epi-LASIK treatment. After creation of the epithelial flap (EpiVision Microkeratome, Gebauer, Neuhausen, Germany), excimer laser ablation was performed with an Allegretto Wave Eye Q excimer laser system (Wavelight, Erlangen, Germany) applying a wavefront optimized ablation profile. The epithelial flap was repositioned and protected by a soft bandage contact lens (PureVision, Bausch&Lomb, Rochester, NY) for 3 days. No eye was treated with Mitomycin C. Parameters evaluated were Snellen uncorrected and best spectacle corrected visual acuity, manifest refraction and haze grade at baseline and follow-up visits after 1, 3, 6 and 12 months.
Results: :
After 1, 3, 6 and 12 months manifest refraction showed a mean spherical equivalent of +0.43 dpt +/- 0.8 [SD], +0.48 dpt +/- 0.5 [SD], +0.27 dpt +/- 0.7 [SD] and +0.05 dpt +/- 0.6 [SD] respectively. After 1 year 75% of the eyes were within +/- 0.5 dpt of the attempted correction, 96% within 1 dpt. 49% gained one or more lines of BSCVA. No eye lost more than one line of BSCVA. Postoperative haze requiring treatment was not observed in any patient, clinically insignificant trace haze was seen in 17% of all corneas.
Conclusions: :
Clinical results after epithelial laser in situ keratomileusis indicate that it is safe and effective in the correction of myopia and myopic astigmatism with a spherical equvivalent of up to -8.0 dpt.
Keywords: laser • refractive surgery • cornea: clinical science