Laser subepithelial keratomileusis for low to moderate myopia: 6-month follow-up

Purpose: To examine the effectiveness, safety, and stability of laser subepithelial keratomileusis (LASEK), a modified photorefractive keratectomy for low to moderate myopia. Methods: This study evaluated the results of LASEK in 48 myopic patients (84 eyes) with a consecutive 6-month follow-up period. Preoperative myopia ranged from 3.25 to 7.00 diopters (D). Uncorrected and corrected visual acuity, manifest refraction, epithelial healing time, postoperative pain, subepithelial corneal haze, and complications were examined. Results: Uncorrected visual acuity of 20/30 or better was achieved in 78.6% of' eyes at 1 week and in 96.4% at 6 months after surgery. A mean refraction of within +/-0.50 D was measured in 42 eyes (50.0%) and +/-1.0 D in 79 eyes (94.0%) at 6 months. The epithelial healing time was 3.68 +/- 0.69 days (range, 3-6 days) and postoperative pain scores were 1.49 +/- 0.65. The subepithelial corneal haze scores were 0.56 +/- 0.34 and 0.16 +/- 0.25 at 1 and 6 months, respectively. As for complications, alcohol leakage during surgery Occurred in 3 eyes, incomplete epithelial detachment in 3 eyes, contact lens intolerance in 5 eyes and steroid-induced elevated intraocular pressure (>21 mm Hg) in 1 eye. Conclusions: LASEK is an effective and safe procedure for low to moderate myopia. It can be considered an alternate type of refractive surgery for correction of low to moderate myopia. Jpn J Pphthalmol 2002;46:299-304 (C) 2002 Japanese Ophthalmological Socicty.