Incidence, Outcomes, and Risk Factors for Retreatment After Wavefront-optimized Ablations With PRK and LASIK

PURPOSE: To analyze and compare retreatment rates after wavefront-optimized photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and LASIK and determine risk factors for retreatment. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed to identify patients undergoing PRK or LASIK with the wavefront-optimized WaveLight platform from January 2005 through December 2006 targeted for a plano outcome and to determine the rate and risk factors for retreatment surgery in this population. RESULTS: Eight hundred fifty-five eyes were analyzed, including 70 (8.2%) eyes with hyperopic refractions and 785 (91.8%) eyes with myopic refractions. After initial treatment, 72% of eyes were 20/20 or better and 99.5% were 20/40 or better. To improve uncorrected visual acuity, 54 (6.3%) eyes had retreatments performed. No significant differences in retreatment rates were noted based on age (P=.15), sex (P=.8), eye (P=.3), PRK versus LASIK (P=1.0), room temperature (P=.1) or humidity (P=.9), and no correlation between retreatment rate and month or season of primary surgery (P=.4). There was no correlation between degree of myopia and retreatment rate. Eyes were significantly more likely to undergo retreatment if they were hyperopic (12.8% vs 6.0%, P=.006) or had astigmatism >= 1.00 diopter (D) (9.1% vs 5.3%, P=.04). CONCLUSIONS: Retreatment rate was 6.3% with the WaveLight ALLEGRETTO WAVE excimer laser. This rate was not influenced by age, sex, corneal characteristics, or environmental factors. Eyes with hyperopic refractions or astigmatism >= 1.00 D were more likely to undergo retreatment. [J Refract Surg. 2009;25:273-276.]