Two-year results of photorefractive keratectomy with scanning spot ablation for myopia of less than -6.0 diopters.

Background And Objective: To investigate the efficacy, predictability, stability, and safety of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) with scanning spot ablation for the treatment of myopia of less than -6.0 D.

Patients And Methods: Twenty eyes of 20 patients (11 men, 9 women) were enrolled into the study. The mean age was 26.2 +/- 5.4 years. Mean spherical equivalent myopia was -3.53 +/- 1.13 D, ranging from -2.25 to -6.00 D. Patients underwent excimer laser PRK for the treatment of myopia. Follow-up time was at least 24 months in all patients.

Results: Mean spherical equivalent refraction was +0.84 +/- 0.99 D at 1 month, +0.19 +/- 0.54 at 3 months, -0.01 +/- 0.53 at 12 months, and -0.13 +/- 0.50 at 24 months. There was a mean regression of 0.65 D between 1 and 3 months. At 24 months, 16 (80%) of the eyes remained within +0.50 D of emmetropia and 18 (90%) of the eyes remained within +/- 1.0 D of emmetropia. Nineteen (95%) of the eyes had uncorrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better. The mean corneal haze score was maximum at 3 months (0.88 +/- 0.22). There was no clinically significant corneal haze (greater than 2+). One eye (5%) lost 2 or more lines of best-corrected visual acuity.

Conclusion: Excimer laser PRK with the scanning spot ablation technique is effective, predictable, stable, and safe for the treatment of myopia of less than -6.0 D.