Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To examine the early time course of visual recovery after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and to identify risk factors for delayed visual recovery. Methods: Retrospective review of 22 eyes from 11 patients with PRK performed with the Wavelight Allegretto Wave excimer laser. Variables analyzed included uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) at day 1, day 7, and day 14 postoperatively. Results: Average day 1 UCVA was 20/37.9 (range 20/20 to 20/70). At day 1, 18.2% achieved 20/20 or better UCVA, 50% achieved 20/25 UCVA, and 68.2% achieved 20/40 or better UCVA. Average day 7 UCVA was 20/38.2 (range 20/20 to 20/100). At day 7, 27.3% achieved 20/20 or better UCVA, 50% achieved 20/25 or better UCVA, and 68.2% achieved 20/40 or better UCVA. Average day 14 UCVA was 20/26.6 (range 20/15 to 20/70). At day 14, 40.9% achieved 20/20 or better UCVA, 72.7% achieved 20/25 or better UCVA, and 90.9% achieved 20/40 or better UCVA. There were no significant differences in terms of age, preoperative pachymetry, ablation depths, or refractions between eyes that achieved 20/40 or better UCVA and those that did not at any time point. Conclusions: Most eyes achieve 20/40 or better UCVA on the first postoperative day after PRK, and most achieve 20/25 or better UCVA by two weeks postoperatively. We did not identify any definitive predisposing factors for delayed visual recovery.
Keywords: refractive surgery: PRK