[Comparison of laser subepithelial keratomileusis and photorefractive keratectomy for the correction of myopia].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness and difference between laser subepithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) and conventional photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for the treatment of myopia up to -8.00 diopter.

METHODS: In this prospective study, 46 patients with a manifest refactiion of -1.75 to -8.00 diopters were treated and followed up for 6 months. In each case, PRK was performed in one eye and LASEK in the other eye. The first eye treated and surgical method used in the first eye was randomized. Epithelial healing time, postoperative pain, uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), manifest refraction, corneal HAZE were followed and compared in PRK and LASEK treated eyes.

RESULTS: LASEK eyes took a mean time of 3.49 days to heal the epithelium, whereas PRK eyes took 2.45 days, which is statistically significant (P <0.05). Postoperative pain index was 2.04 and 2.45 in LASEK eyes and PRK eyes respectively (P <0.05). There were no significant differences between eyes in UCVA and manifest refraction during the follow time (P >0.05). However, LASEK-treated eyes showed less corneal haze than PRK eyes.

CONCLUSIONS: LASEK can effectively and safely treat myopia up to -8.00 diopters as PRK did, and can diminish early pain after surgery and prevent corneal Haze from happening.