[Photorefractive keratectomy for correction of anisometropia after cataract surgery].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the visual and refractive outcome of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in patients with anisometropia after cataract surgery. METHODS: We studied a series of 31 eyes of 24 patients who underwent PRK for the correction of anisometropia after cataract surgery. Pre- and post-operative vision, refraction, anisometropia and surgical complications were observed. These patients were followed-up at 12.2 months after laser ablation. RESULTS: One week following PRK, the uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and the best correct visual acuity (BCVA) were improved significantly (P < 0.01). Mean spherical equivalent refraction (MSER) was decreased significantly to (1.12 +/- 0.55) D after PRK. The MSER was (1.27 +/- 0.56) D in myopia eyes and (0.81 +/- 0.38) D in hyperopia eyes one week after PRK, the difference between these two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.01). Astigmatism was decreased significantly after PRK (P < 0.01), the mean astigmatism was (0.49 +/- 0.38) D one week after the operation. Anisometropia was decreased from (3.44 +/- 1.07) D to (0.58 +/- 0.31) D after PRK, the difference between the pre-operative and post-operative anisometropia was statistically significant (P < 0.01). No serious complications occurred during or after the operation. CONCLUSION: PRK is a safe, reliable and effective method for correction of anisometropia after cataract surgery.