Clinical Results of Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis and Laser in Situ Keratomileusis for Morderate and High Myopia

Purpose: To compare the safety and efficacy in patients of moderate or high myopia undergoing LASIK and LASEK in criteria of residual corneal thickness of 250 during six months after surgery. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from 56 eyes of 30 patients in the LASIK group and 31 eyes of 18 patients in the LASEK group. All eyes underwent LASIK and LASEK with the Visx Star excimer laser. All patients were evaluated using a standard protocol, then assessed at Iweek, 2month, 6month after surgery. The refractive surgery mainly was performed with mainly LASIK, but was performed with LASEK in cases of the residual corneal thickness less than 250 . The data were analyzed with Student t-test for continuous data and Pearson chi-square analysis for proportion. Results: A statistically significant difference in spherical equivalent was not observed among eyes that operated LASIK and LASEK during 6months. Uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA) was more rapid recovery after LASIK than LASEK at lweek (LASIK : 0.730.24 LASEK: 0.590.25, p0.50D from emmetropia and 44.4% in LASIK. The UCVA was 0.8 or better in LASIK(67.9%) and LASEK(64.5%) Conclusions: There was no significant difference in moderate or high myopia between LASIK and LASEK for 6months, except showing a more rapid visual recovery in eyes that underwent LASIK at 1week after surgery. This study suggest that LASEK should be selected in cases of residual corneal thickness less than 250 in patients of moderate or high myopia.