Eight-Year Follow-up of Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis for Correcting Moderate and High Myopia

Byung Ju Jung; Tae Hoon Oh; Sung Kun Chung

doi:10.3341/jkos.2012.53.10.1438

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Jung, Oh, and Chung: Eight-Year Follow-up of Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis for Correcting Moderate and High Myopia

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 2012; 53(10): 1438-1444.

Published online: 17 October 2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2012.53.10.1438

Eight-Year Follow-up of Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis for Correcting Moderate and High Myopia

Byung Ju Jung, MD, Tae Hoon Oh, MD, Sung Kun Chung, MD, PhD

Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.

Address reprint requests to Sung Kun Chung, MD, PhD. Department of Ophthalmology, Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, #10, 63-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul 150-713, Korea. Tel: 82-2-3779-1150, Fax: 82-2-761-6869, eyedoc@catholic.ac.kr

Received 24 October 2011 Accepted 24 September 2012

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the long-term prognosis and complications of laser epithelial keratomileusis (LASEK).

Methods

A retrospective study including 92 eyes of 46 myopic patients treated with LASEK from November 1999 to February 2003 was performed. Follow-up visits were at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 8 years. Treated eyes were divided into 2 groups according to preoperative spherical equivalent (SE) : low and medium myopia (<-6.0 D), and high myopia (>-6.0 D). The main outcome measures were UCVA, BCVA, postoperative SE, efficacy index, safety index, predictability, and postoperative complications.

Results

Preoperative visual acuity was 1.24 ± 0.42 log MAR, and the average of SE was -5.28 ± 1.63 D. Postoperative visual acuity log MAR was significantly improved compared to preoperative visual acuity, and the average of visual acuity was 0.12 ± 0.13 log MAR. The percentage of eyes within ± 1.0 D of emmetropia 8 years after having LASEK was 69.5% in the mild and moderate myopia group, and 63.6% in the high myopia group. There was no significant difference of safety index, efficacy index or complications between the 2 groups at 1 month, 3 months, 1 year, and 8 years. Safety index was maintained over 0.9 and efficacy index was larger than 0.8. There were no other complications during the observation period.

Conclusions

An 8-year follow-up showed LASEK for mild to moderate and high myopia to be a safe and effective procedure.

Keywords: LASEK, Long-term follow-up, Myopia

Figures and Tables

Figure 1

(A) Bar graph representing the percentage of eyes within ± 1.0 D of emmetropia (in aspect of spherical equivalent) at 8 years after LASEK. (B) The percentage of eyes within ± 0.5 D of emmetropia.

Figure 2

Corneal subepithelial haziness.

Table 1

Characteristics of eyes of patients

Values are presented as mean ± SD or number.

Table 2

Comparison of uncorrected and corrected visual acuity of two groups

Values are presented as mean ± SD.

Group 1: low and medium myopia (<-6.0 D, n = 59), Group 2: high myopia (≥-6.0 D, n = 33).

Table 3

Comparison of residual post-operative spherical equivalent

Values are presented as mean ± SD.

Group 1: low and medium myopia (<-6.0 D, n = 59), Group 2: high myopia (≥-6.0 D, n = 33).

Table 4

Comparison of safety index and efficacy index of two groups

Values are presented as mean ± SD.

Group 1: low and medium myopia (<-6.0 D, n = 59), Group 2: high myopia (≥-6.0 D, n = 33).

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