Pesando P M, Ghiringhello M P, Tagliavacche P
Centro di Laserchirurgia Oftalmica e di Microchirugia Oculare di Ivrea, Italy.
J Refract Surg. 1997 Sep-Oct;13(6):521-7. doi: 10.3928/1081-597X-19970901-08.
To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and predictability of excimer laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for the correction of myopia.
Forty-six consecutive eyes that had LASIK with the VISX 20/20B laser and Chiron corneal shaper were evaluated. Mean spherical equivalent of the preoperative manifest refraction was -9.40 +/- 3.78 diopters (D) (range, -3.50 to -19.75 D). The refractive effect (postoperative refraction minus baseline refraction), residual refractive error (refractive effect minus planned correction) and uncorrected and spectacle-corrected visual acuity were examined.
Mean follow-up was 6.1 months (range, 3 to 9 mo). Spectacle-corrected visual acuity was unchanged in 39 eyes (84.78%), significantly improved in five eyes (10.86%), and worse in two eyes (4.34%). Uncorrected visual acuity was 20/20 or better in 15 eyes (32.6%) and 20/40 or better in 39 eyes (84.78%). Thirteen eyes (28.26%) had a postoperative spherical equivalent refraction within +/- 0.50 D and 36 eyes (78.26%) within +/- 1.00 D of attempted correction. No intraoperative complication occurred. Postoperative complications were few and not severe: three eyes (6.52%) developed regular astigmatism, two eyes (4.34%) had interface deposits, and three eyes (6.52%) had small epithelial cysts in the interface.
LASIK with the VISX 20/20B laser is safe, moderately effective, and relatively predictable for correcting myopia from -3.50 to -19.50 D. Predictability decreases with increasing myopia.
