One-year results of photorefractive keratectomy and laser in situ keratomileusis for myopia using a 213 nm wavelength solid-state laser

PURPOSE: To study the long-term results of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) in low to moderate myopic corrections using the Pulzar Z1 system (CustomVis), a 213 nm wavelength solid-state laser. SETTING: University refractive surgery center. METHODS: This prospective noncomparative case series comprised 20 patients (40 eyes) who had refractive surgery using the Pulzar Z1 laser system. Manifest refraction, uncorrected visual acuity, best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), safety, predictability, stability, and confocal microscopy images were evaluated. RESULTS: Ten patients (20 eyes) had PRK and 10 patients (20 eyes) had LASIK. The mean follow-up was 13.9 months +/- 1.1 (SD) (range 12 to 17 months) and 14.6 +/- 1.2 months (range 12 to 18 months) in the PRK group and LASIK group, respectively. No eye lost a line of Snellen BSCVA during the follow-up period; 2 eyes (10%) gained 2 Snellen lines. There was a statistically significant decrease in spherical equivalent manifest refraction postoperatively in both groups (P<.05). Refractive stability was obtained during the first postoperative month and remained stable during the follow-up period, with no significant changes between any interval in both groups (P>.05). At the last follow-up, 95% of all eyes were within +/-1.00 diopter of emmetropia. No late postoperative complications were observed. CONCLUSION: Refractive surgery using the Pulzar Z1 213 nm wavelength solid-state laser was a safe, effective procedure in the treatment of low to moderate myopia.