LASEK versus LASIK for the correction of moderate myopia

Purpose. To compare the results of laser subepithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) and laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for the correction of moderate myopia. Methods. We performed a retrospective, single-masked, interventional study of 80 consecutive eyes. Forty eyes that had undergone LASEK to correct myopia of -2.0 to -6.0 D were compared with age and refraction matched patients treated with LASIK. All eyes had been operated by the same experienced surgeon using the same laser (Technolas 217). Mitomycin C was not used in any patient. Results. Eighty eyes were reviewed (40 treated with LASEK, 40 treated with LASIK). The preoperative mean sphere was -3.8 D (range -2 to -6D) and mean cylinder was -0.7 D (range 0 to -2 D) in both groups. Postoperative uncorrected visual acuity was worse in LASEK eyes 1 and 7 days postoperatively (p = 0.0001), although the difference 7 days postoperatively (< one letter) was not clinically meaningful. No significant differences were noted 3 months Postoperatively either in the uncorrected visual acuity, in the best-spectacle corrected visual acuity, or in the residual refractive error. Nine LASEK-treated eyes showed a postoperative refraction of +1 D or more. These cases had a higher preoperative sphere (-4.5 D) compared with the nonovercorrected LASEK-treated eyes (-3.5 D) (p = 0.03). One eye after LASEK and four eyes after LASIK needed retreatment (p > 0.05). Conclusions. LASIK and LASIK seem to be similar in terms of safety and efficacy for the correction of moderate myopia. Nevertheless, a trend toward overcorrection was found in the LASEK group in correlation with a higher preoperative refractive error.