Wavefront-supported photorefractive keratectomy: 12-month follow-up

PURPOSE: To evaluate safety, efficacy, predictability, and stability of wavefront-supported photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for correction of myopia and myopic astigmatism, with 12-month follow-up. METHODS: Thirty eyes of 23 patients with myopia less than -8.00 D (mean -3.76 +/- 1.90 D) and cylinder less than -3.50 D (mean -0.81 +/- 0.71 D) were selected. Aberrometry measurements were taken with the Asclepion aberrometer in order to perform customized wavefront-supported PRK. Eyes were treated with the Asclepion MEL 70 excimer laser and were followed for 12 months. RESULTS: UCVA of 20/16 or better was achieved by 47% (14 eyes) at 1 month, 67% (20 eyes) at 3 months, 77% (23 eyes) at 6 months, 90% (27 eyes) at 9 months, and 83% (25 eyes) after 1 year. No eye lost more than 1 line of BSCVA at 3, 6, 9, or 12 months. Two eyes (7%) gained more than 2 lines 1 month postoperatively, and 13% (4 eyes) gained more than 2 lines at 6, 9, and 12 months postoperatively. BSCVA of 20/10 or better was achieved in nine eyes (30%) at 1 and 12 months. Visual acuity under low contrast at 3 and 12 months after PRK was unchanged in 87% (26 eyes). Visual acuity under glare remained unchanged at 3 months after PRK in 86% (26 eyes) and at 12 months in 83% (25 eyes). CONCLUSION: Excimer laser wavefront-supported PRK with the Asclepion MEL 70 laser was safe and effective for the treatment of myopia and myopic astigmatism. Daylight visual acuity and mesopic visual acuity outcomes remained stable over 1 year.