Complications of photorefractive keratectomy for myopia: two year follow-up of 3000 cases.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the results and complications of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for myopia.

SETTING

Alicante Institute of Ophthalmology, University of Alicante, Spain.

METHODS

This prospective study evaluated the results and complications of the first 3000 cases of PRK performed with a VISX Twenty-Twenty excimer laser. Myopia ranged from -1.0 to -14.0 diopters (D) and astigmatism, from -1.0 to -5.0 D. Follow-up was 2 years.

RESULTS

Ten eyes (0.7%) lost two or more lines of best corrected visual acuity 1 year after surgery. Retreatment for undercorrection or regression was done in 7.41% in the low myopia group and 38.69% in the high myopia group. Central islands, which could be detected only on videokeratoscopy, occurred frequently but influenced the refractive and visual outcomes in few cases. Severe haze was present in 17 eyes only after 1 year follow-up. There were no cases of progressive hyperopia. Other complications such as eccentric ablation producing astigmatism (n = 15), delayed re-epithelialization, or recurrent corneal erosion were rare.

CONCLUSION

There were few complications after PRK in 3000 eyes. With proper patient selection, PRK can be considered relatively safe compared with other refractive procedures.