Clinical Ophthalmology (Jun 2018)
High myopic photorefractive keratectomy outcomes with the Alcon Wavelight® EX500 excimer laser
Abstract
Mark D Mifflin,1 Brent S Betts,2 Jason Nguyen,3 Severin Pouly4 1Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; 2Intermountain Eye and Laser Center, Boise, ID, USA; 3Department of Ophthalmology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV, USA; 4Little Rock Eye Clinic, Little Rock, AR, USA Purpose: To present refractive outcomes from consecutive cases with the Alcon Wavelight® EX500 excimer laser using photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in patients with high myopia.Methods: A retrospective chart review of consecutive cases of high myopic eyes (≥6.0 Diopters [D]) undergoing PRK with the Alcon Wavelight EX500 excimer laser (Alcon Laboratories, Fort Worth, TX, USA) was done. Moderately high myopic eyes (6.0 to <8.0 D [6 D]) were compared with high myopic eyes (8.0 D or greater [8 D]). Outcomes measured included pre- and postoperative refractive error, uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity, spherical equivalent correction (SEQ), haze incidence, and intraocular pressure (IOP).Results: One hundred eighteen eyes of 63 patients were evaluated, with 59 eyes having 12 months of follow-up. Thirty-one eyes of 19 patients had 8.0 D or more of myopia. Twelve-month average LogMAR UDVA was –0.06 (20/17) for the 6 D group and –0.08 (20/16) for the 8 D group. Average 12-month SEQ was –0.18 D and preoperatively was –7.52 D for the 6 D group and –0.09 and –9.02 in the 8 D group. Sixty-five eyes (86%) and 24 eyes (96%) had an SEQ within 0.50 D of emmetropia at 3 months in the 6 and 8 D groups, respectively. One eye had visually significant haze developed at 8 months. Three eyes had IOP elevation that resolved with addition of short-term topical IOP-lowering medication.Conclusion: High myopic PRK with the Alcon Wavelight EX500 excimer laser yields excellent refractive outcomes with a low incidence of complications. Keywords: high myopia, PRK, wavefront-optimized, refractive surgery