Visual and refractive results of combined PTK/PRK in patients with corneal surface disease and refractive errors
Accepted 28 November 2005.
Purpose
To investigate the changes in symptoms, refraction, and visual acuity (VA) in patients with corneal surface disease and refractive errors who had phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) combined with photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).
Setting
University-based referral practice.
Methods
Patients with myopia or astigmatism and map-dot-fingerprint dystrophy or recurrent erosions were treated. The corneal epithelium was removed with a 64 blade, and laser was performed using a Visx Star S3 laser.
Results
Nineteen eyes of 14 patients were treated. Preoperatively, mean myopia was −3.76 diopters (D) (range −7.50 to −0.75 D), mean astigmatism was +0.96 D (range 0.00 to +2.25 D), and mean UCVA was 20/400. At 3 months, mean myopia was −0.53 D (range −1.75 to +0.75 D) (P<.001), mean astigmatism was +0.58 D (range 0.00 to +1.25 D) (P = .05), and mean uncorrected VA was 20/23 (P<.001). At 6 months, mean myopia was −0.31 D (range −1.00 to +0.75 D) (P<.001), mean astigmatism was +0.56 D (range 0.00 to +1.25 D) (P = .05), and mean uncorrected VA was 20/23 (P<.001). The change in astigmatism was confirmed by vector analysis. Only 1 patient lost 1 line of acuity, and all patients were asymptomatic.
Conclusion
Patients with myopia and astigmatism and symptomatic epithelial basement membrane disorders who had PTK/PRK had resolution of their symptoms and nearly achieved emmetropia. Therefore, this procedure is safe and effective for patients with corneal surface disease and myopia.
From New York Medical College, Westchester Medical Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Valhalla, New York, USA
Reprint requests to Gerald W. Zaidman, MD, Department of Ophthalmology, Macy Building - Room 1100, Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595.
Presented in part at the ASCRS Symposium on Cataract, IOL and Refractive Surgery, San Francisco, California, USA, April 2003; and the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, May 2003.
Neither author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
ABSTRACT