Excimer laser correction of myopia

Excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy was performed on 100 myopic eyes. The preoperative spherical equivalent of myopia ranged from -2.00 to -9.99 diopters (D), mean -4.80 +/- 2.20 D. The procedure was performed under local anesthesia using 0.4% topical benoxinate HCl; corticosteroid eye drops were then used for up to 3 months. All patients achieved corrected visual acuity within 1 line of corrected preoperative visual acuity. The only complication was subepithelial reticular haze seen in all patients, which peaked at 4 weeks after the procedure and gradually diminished within 3 months. After follow-up of from 6-11 months, 93% of patients had achieved uncorrected visual acuity of 6/12 or better. Mean postoperative refraction was -0.20 +/- 0.97 D. 69% achieved a correction within +/- 0.50 diopter of emmetropia, 85% within +/- 1.00 D and 96% achieved corrected visual acuity of within 1 line of preoperative corrected visual acuity. This study and those in the literature show excimer laser to be a promising surgical treatment for myopia.