LASEK for low to moderate myopia stabilized after 4 weeks

Vision after laser epithelial keratomileusis in patients with low to moderate myopia and astigmatism was generally good by 4 weeks postop, but stabilization took longer in some eyes, according to a retrospective study.

Suphi Taneri, MD, and colleagues at the Schepens Eye Research Institute in Boston analyzed the visual results in 171 eyes of 105 patients who underwent LASEK between 1996 and 2002 with a follow-up of up to 2 years. LASEK was performed in these eyes by creating an epithelial flap using 25 to 45 seconds of exposure to 20% alcohol, ablating the corneal surface with one of several lasers, repositioning the flap and applying a bandage contact lens. Outcome measures in the study included best corrected visual acuity, re-treatment rate, manifest refraction and complications.

Preoperatively, the mean spherical equivalent was –2.99 D and the mean cylinder was –0.78 D. Uncorrected visual acuity ranged from 20/800 to 20/32 and BCVA from 20/63 to 20/16.

By the first postoperative week, 96% of eyes had a UCVA of 20/40 or better; however, definitive visual recovery took more than 4 weeks in some eyes. About 95% of the eyes achieved within 1 D of emmetropia after 4 to 52 weeks, the authors said. In that follow-up period, only 1 eye was overcorrected by more than 1 D of manifest refraction.

No serious complications were encountered, including recurrent erosion syndrome, the authors said. Mean follow-up was 31 weeks and the re-treatment rate was 2.9% at up to 2 years of follow-up.

The study is published in the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.