BACKGROUNDThe recent studies have shown that visual performance might be affected by the ocular aberration after the corneal refractive surgery, and try to minimize it. This study was to investigate the effects of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) on the higher order of wavefront aberration and analysis of their characteristics.

METHODThis prospective study involved 32 eyes with similar refractive powers (-5.0 D to -6.0 D preoperatively). LASIK and PRK were performed with the same parameters of 6 mm diameter optical zone and 7 mm diameter transition zone ablation. Wavefront aberrations were tested using a ray tracing technique preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively. Three measurements were obtained for each condition; the root mean squared wavefront error (RMS), values for overall wavefront aberrations and each order of the Zernike aberrations were analyzed using the Matlab software. The 2-tailed t test was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTSOverall higher order aberrations were increased from (0.550.26) microm preoperatively to (0.930.37) microm for PRK and (0.790.38) microm for LASIK postoperatively. This was a 1.69 fold increase in the PRK group (t = 3.95, P < 0.001) and a 1.43 fold increase in the LASIK group (t = 2.60, P < 0.05). At 3 months, the mean RMS value for higher-order (3rd to 6th) were significantly increased compared with the corresponding preoperative values (P < 0.05). The fourth order aberrations, spherical like aberration, were dominant by a 2.64 fold in PRK and a 2.31 fold in LASIK. Different influences of the PRK group and LASIK group were shown in the various zernike components. The statistically significant differences were seen in C(4)(0), C(4)(+4), C(5)(+1), C(5)(+3), C(5)(+5) and C(6)(+2) of the PRK group and C(3)(-3), C(4)(0), C(5)(-5), C(5)(+5), C(6)(-2) of the LASIK group, which represents a 7.42, 3.58, 9.21, 2.72 and 5.3 fold increases in PRK group, and 6.40, 10.80, 11.06, 3.47 and 6.09 fold increases in LASIK group, respectively. C(3)(-3) in LASIK was higher and C(5)(+1) and C(5)(+3) were lower than those in the PRK group. C(4)(0) (spherical aberration) values were similar between PRK and LASIK, however, C(3)(-1) and C(3)(1) (coma) in LASIK were higher than those in PRK, but these differences are of no statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONSPRK and LASIK may increase ocular higher-order aberrations, but they both have their own features. The difference between the two types of surgery may be correlated with the change of the corneal shape, the conversion of biodynamics, the healing of the corneal cut, and re-structured corneal epithelium and/or the stroma.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cornea ; pathology ; Humans ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ ; adverse effects ; Lasers, Excimer ; Photorefractive Keratectomy ; adverse effects ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Prospective Studies ; Vision Disorders ; etiology ; Visual Acuity

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate a method of how to remove epithelium grown beneath the hinge area after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) without affecting the refractive part of the lenticule. In three cases, an incision was made at the base of the hinge by RK diamond knife to free the lenticule from the stroma. The lenticule was lifted from the nasal edge. The epithelium grown along the interface beneath the hinge area was removed with a Bard-Parker No. 15 knife. The lenticular flap was repositioned with interrupted sutures using 10-0 nylon. No further epithelial ingrowth was observed. The central cornea remained clear leaving a peripheral ring-shaped opacity without affecting the preoperative naked visual acuity. In conclusion, epithelial ingrowth along the interface after LASIK can be removed safely without affecting the refractive part by the incision of the hinge area with a RK diamond knife, removal of the epithelium, and suturing of the lenticule to the stromal bed.
Adult ; Epithelium, Corneal/surgery* ; Epithelium, Corneal/pathology* ; Female ; Human ; Keratectomy, Photorefractive, Excimer Laser/adverse effects* ; Male ; Reoperation ; Suture Techniques ; Treatment Outcome ; Visual Acuity/physiology