Evaluating the efficiency of PRK in the treatment of myopia and hyperopia in 1386 using TECHNOLAS 217Z100

Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) is one of the widely used refractive procedures which was first introduced in the late 1980's to correct myopia. Although some alternatives such as laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) have been introduced and become popular in the late 1990’s, PRK remains an excellent option for the correction of myopia and hyperopia with its modifications such as laser subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK) and epithelial LASIK, to refrain from possible complications of LASIK.(1) The aim of this study was to evaluate PRK efficiency in terms of the safety and predictability in the treatment of myopia and hyperopia using TECHNOLAS 217Z100.In this clinical trial study, 188 myopic and hyperopic patients who referred to Mashhad Laser Therapy Center in 1386 for PRK surgery were retrospectively studied in duration of one year. Those patients who were qualified according to the inclusion criteria entered the study. Then, the necessary data about the patients like refraction, visual acuity and other information were recorded into a questionnaire. During the study, those cases who could not meet the requirements of the surgery were excluded from the study. The subjects of the study underwent the follow-up procedure for one day, one month, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after the surgery. Finally, all the data were recorded and analyzed using SPSS software. Descriptive statistical methods and ANOVA Repeated Measurement were used at the significant level of P<0.05. In the myopic group, 39 males (26%) and 111 females (74%), with the mean age of 28.35 6.9 years (20-50) were followed in this study. The difference of vision was significant before and after the operation. (P<0.05) The follow-up results after 6 months showed vision stability. 98.8% of the patients had vision of. 20/25 PRK efficacy on myopia showed that the preoperative mean myopia improved after 6 months. In the hyperopic group, 38 patients with the mean age of 40.1±11 years were followed. The mean hyperopia was measured as2.96+0.98 and the mean astigmatism was -1+0.71.After one year, the mean hyperopia was reduced to 0.42+0.72 and the mean astigmatism to -0.7+0.34.The uncorrected visual acuity was 0.27+0.2 which was changed to 0.9+0.1 after one year. The difference was significant before and after the operation (P=0.001).According to the results, PRK surgery using TECHNOLAS 217Z100 is a safe and stable procedure for correcting myopia and hyperopia.