This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Reply to article  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Catherine A. Carson, PhD; Hugh R. Taylor, MD; Melbourne Excimer Laser and Research Group

Arch Ophthalmol. 1995;113(4):431-436.

Abstract
Objective
The excimer laser allows the controlled ablation of corneal tissue to correct refractive error. We assessed the efficacy of excimer laser treatment for persons with high (spherical equivalent between –5 and –10 diopters) and extreme (spherical equivalent greater than –10 D) myopia.

Methods
Patients were assessed 1,3, and 6 months postoperatively. A VisX Twenty/Twenty laser was used. Visual acuity, refraction, corneal clarity, and adverse reactions were evaluated at each visit.

Results
Six month follow-up data were available for 194 high myopes and 53 extreme myopes. Postoperative healing was similar for the two groups. Six months postoperatively, 89.2% of high myopes and 49% of extreme myopes were within 2 D of planned refraction. At 6 months, 28% of high myopes had an uncorrected visual acuity of 20/20 and 71% had an uncorrected visual actuity of 20/40. Of extreme myopes, 4% had an uncorrected visual acuity of 20/20 and 30% had an uncorrected visual acuity of 20/40. Significantly more corneal haze was observed in the extreme myopes. Loss of 2 or more lines of best corrected visual acuity was observed in 13% of high myopes and 13% of extreme myopes at 6 months.

Conclusions
Excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy is an alternative means of treating high and extreme myopia and can cause a significant reduction in myopia. There is a need to gather further information as more patients are followed up for greater time.

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, University of Melboune (Australia). The members of the Melbourne Excimer Laser and Research Group are listed in the acknowledgments at the end of this article. The authors have no proprietary interest in the development or marketing of the VisX excimer laser or a competing laser.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Ten years after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for moderate to high myopia (control-matched study)
Alio et al.
Br J Ophthalmol 2009;93:1313-1318.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Long-Term Corneal Morphology after PRK by In Vivo Confocal Microscopy
Moilanen et al.
IOVS 2003;44:1064-1069.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

In Vivo Confocal Microscopy After Photorefractive Keratectomy in Humans: A Prospective, Long-term Study
Frueh et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 1998;116:1425-1431.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Laser intrastromal keratomileusis for high myopia and myopic astigmatism
Condon et al.
Br J Ophthalmol 1997;81:199-206.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Predictability of Excimer Laser Treatment of Myopia
Taylor et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 1996;114:248-251.
ABSTRACT  

Overcorrection After Excimer Laser Treatment of Myopia and Myopic Astigmatism
Vajpayee et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 1996;114:252-256.
ABSTRACT