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PRK effective and well-tolerated up to 16 years postop
PRK corrected up to 7 D of myopia with refractive stability persisting for 16 years, a study found.
“Our study found refractive stability for 16 years postoperatively with a very low level of serious long-term sequelae and high levels of patient satisfaction,” the study authors said.
The cohort study included 120 eyes of 80 patients who underwent PRK at one center in 1992 and 1993; 39 eyes of 23 patients were followed for 16 years. Mean age of the study patients was 32.5 years at the time of treatment.
Mean preoperative spherical equivalent was –4.36 D.
Manifest refraction, uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuity, slit lamp biomicroscopy, dilated funduscopy, applanation tonometry and corneal topography were assessed at 16 years. Subjective symptoms such as glare, halos and patient satisfaction were also evaluated.
Final uncorrected distance visual acuity was 20/20 or better in 27 eyes and 20/30 or better in 36 eyes. Fifteen eyes had no change in corrected distance visual acuity, eight eyes lost one line and 16 eyes gained one line; no eye lost two or more lines.
Thirty-one eyes were within 1 D of emmetropia, six eyes were within 1 D to 2 D, and two eyes were within 2 D to 3 D.
Visible haze was identified in four eyes, and developing haze was identified in two eyes. No eyes had clinical or topographic evidence of ectasia. Six patients reported halos or glare, but all symptoms improved. All patients said they would undergo PRK again.