• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.55-65
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• 2000

Purpose: To compare the efficacy, predictability, stability and safety of excimer laser photorefracive keratectomy(PRK) for myopia and photoastigmatic refractive keratectomy(PARK) for compound myopic astigmatism. Methods: Two-hundred and three eyes(l18 eyes < -7D spherical equivalent, 85 eyes ${\geq}$ -7D spherical equivalent) received excimer laser correction for compound myopic astigmatism and 152 eyes(116 eyes < -7D, 36 eyes ${\geq}$ -7D) for simple myopia. A VISX 20/20B $VisionKey^{TM}$ excimer laser was used to perform either PARK or PRK. Visual acuity with and without correction, refraction, IOP, corneal haze, and topography were evaluated at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. All patients were followed up for more than 12 months. Results: Postoperative refraction were generally stable after 3 months without significant early overcorrection. At 12 months, 110(94.8%) eyes that underwent PRK and 104(88.1%) eyes that underwent PARK achieved UCVA of 20/30 or better in the group who had lower than -7D correction. For eyes treated with -7D or more, these figures were 31(86.1%) eyes after PRK and 57(67.1%) eyes after PARK. The incidences of within 1D of plano refraction at 1 year follow-up were 97.4% after PRK and 93.2% after PARK in the group who had lower than -7D correction. For eyes treated with -7D or more, these figures were 80.6% after PRK and 70.6% after PARK. Conclusions Myopia with or without astigmatism was successfully treated in most of the eyes using PRK or PARK with VISX 20/20B $VisionKey^{TM}$ excimer laser. The predictability and stability of the postoperative refraction during the first 12 months seem to be quite reliable. Further improvement of excimer laser system and software should increase the clinical outcomes and safety of refractive procedures.