22 Sep 20 Year Follow Up of PRK Eye Surgery: Procedure Found Safe With Slight Increase in Myopia

Posted at 11:49h in Author Interviews, Ophthalmology by

Dr. David O'Brart Keratoconus Research Institute, Department of Ophthalmology St. Thomas' Hospital, London, United KingdomMedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. David O’Brart
Keratoconus Research Institute, Department of Ophthalmology
St. Thomas’ Hospital, London, United Kingdom

 

Medical Research: What are the main findings of the study?

Dr. O’Brart: There was a slight but significant increase in myopic spherical equivalent refractive error after Photorefractive Keratectomy between 1 and 20 years, particularly in those under 40 at the time of treatment and female patients.

Corneal curvature/power remained unchanged but axial length increased over two decades. The procedure was safe with no long-term sight-threatening complications and improvements in CDVA (corrected distance visual acuity) and corneal transparency with time.


Medical Research: What was most surprising about the results?

Dr. O’Brart:

  • Increase in axial length even in low myopes (-3.00D) and those over 40 over 20 year follow-up.
  • Possible increased regression of effect in females.

Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Dr. O’Brart: Further long-term studies are required,

Citation:

Twenty-Year Follow-Up of a Randomized Prospective Clinical Trial of Excimer Laser Photorefractive Keratectomy
O’Brart DP1, Shalchi Z2, McDonald RJ2, Patel P2, Archer TJ3, Marshall J4.
Am J Ophthalmol. 2014 Oct;158(4):651-663.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2014.06.013. Epub 2014 June 25

MedicalResearch.com Editor’s note: If you are considering ‘Laser Eye Surgery’ please discuss the difference between PRK and LASIK surgery with your Ophthalmologist.

Last Updated on September 22, 2014 by Marie Benz MD FAAD

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