A prospective comparison of off-flap epi-LASIK and P.R.K for correction of myopia

Abstract

Purpose:To compare the clinical post operative results of off-flap epi- LASIK and photorefractive keratectomy (P.R.K) for the correction of myopia
Methods:In Al-Hillah teaching Hospital (Laser Unit),100 eyes of 50 patients with myopia in which off-flap epi-LASIK was done to one eye and photorefractive keratectomy (P.R.K ) was done to other eye , in epi- LASIK mechanical separation of the corneal epithelium was performed with MORIA epikeratome and alcohol assisted separation with 25 seconds application of 18% alcohol (P.R.K technique). Ablation was performed with NIDEK CXIII laser . The patients were seen daily until epithelial healing and at one, three, and six months, time to epithelial healing , haze grades and pain scales were recorded Results:pre operative myopic spherical refraction was (-3.90 ± 1.45 diopters ) range (-2.00 to-6.50 diopters ) , the mean time to epithelial healing was slightly longer after (P.R.K ) (4.9 ± 0.6 days ) compared to epi-LASIK (4.20 ± 0.56 days ). Of both techniques (P.R.K and epi-LASIK) treated eyes 94% achieved 6/6 after six months; the grades of pain and haze were nearly similar in both off-flap Epi-LASIK and P.R.K
Conclusions:Off-flap epi-LASIK and P.R.K offer effective correction of myopia with comparable results regarding postoperative pain and haze