Posters

A prospective, contralateral comparison of clinical outcomes of PRK using different frequency mode (250/500Hz, MEL 90)

Poster Details

First Author: H.Gye SOUTH KOREA

Co Author(s):    J. Kim   C. Choi   G. Auffarth              

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To evaluate postoperative clinical outcomes of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) using different ablation frequencies.

Setting:

Department of ophthalmology, Kangbuk Samsung hospital, Seoul, Korea.

Methods:

This prospective, contralateral eye study included patients with myopia or myopic astigmatism who underwent PRK with MEL 90 excimer laser system (Carl Zeiss Meditec) using the 250 Hz and the 500 Hz platform on each eye. Postoperative follow-up was at 3 and 7 days and 1 and 3months. The outcome parameters included uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), higher-order aberrations (HOAs), corneal reepithelialization time, and corneal haze.

Results:

The study comprised 30 patients, 60 eyes. Ablation depth was proportional to laser pulse counts and there was no difference in the laser pulse energy, spot size and ablation profile except ablation frequency between groups. At 3 months, 96.4% of eyes in 250Hz group and 92.9% in 500Hz group had a UDVA of 0.0logMAR or better(p=0.553); 93.3% and 90% of eyes, respectively, were within ± 1.00 D of the attempted correction(p=0.640). All eyes had a postoperative CDVA of 0.0logMAR or better and there was no difference between groups in postoperative HOAs, corneal reepithelialization time and corneal haze.

Conclusions:

Photorefractive keratectomy using a 250Hz or 500Hz platform had comparable efficacy, safety and predictability in the correction of myopia. Excimer lasers with adjustable repetition rates according to case would reduce possible complications and maintain advantage of the high-repetition rate laser system.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE