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Many myopic eyes approach emmetropia 8 years after PRK
Cornea. 2009;28(3):304-310.
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PRK for myopia has positive long-term visual outcomes, according to a study. Investigators assessed visual outcomes and complications up to 8 years after surgery.
"Based on our study, PRK seems to be a safe, efficient and stable procedure, and if patients obtain a good result with the initial treatment, then their results are relatively stable over time," the study authors said.
The study included data on 179 eyes of 98 patients who underwent PRK in 1997 and 1998 and had subsequent annual examinations. Eyes were assigned to three groups according to preoperative refraction: low myopia (–6 D or less), moderate myopia (–6.1 D to -10 D) and high myopia (–10 D or more).
Data showed 69.64% of low myopes, 44.44% of moderate myopes and 45.65% of high myopes attained vision within ±0.5 D of emmetropia. Four eyes lost two lines of best corrected visual acuity; one eye had corneal haze, and three eyes had conditions unrelated to refractive surgery, the authors said.
Investigators identified a slight myopic shift, but myopic regression stabilized within 2 years.