Author
Department of Surgery, Medical College, Kirkuk University
Abstract
Background: Despite that LASIK showed faster visual recovery after the operation, there was no considerable variation in the visual results between LASIK and PRK with long term- follow up. Aim of study: To assess the outcome of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and laser (or laser-assisted) in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for the initial 100 cases in the same center at Kirkuk city. Patients and Methods: This clinical study was designed as a prospective, 6-month clinical study. A total 198 eyes of 100 patients entered the study cohort: 141 randomized to LASIK and 57 to PRK. All patients received a one-pass, multizone excimer laser ablation as part of either PRK or LASIK procedure using the Alcon Allegretto excimer laser. The preoperative manifest spherical equivalent ranged from -9.25 diopters (D) to +5.0 D for the LASIK group and -4.50 D to -0.6 D for the PRK group. Results: At 6 months after surgery, 43 (75.4%) and 10 (17.5%) eyes in the PRK group achieved UCVA of 6/6 and 6/12 or better respectively, while after LASIK, 63 (44.6%) and 71 (50.3 %) eyes achieved UCVA of 6/6 and 6/12 or better, respectively. After PRK 56 (98.2%) eyes were within 1.0 D of attempted correction compared to 132 (92.7%) eyes in the LASIK group. At 6 months postoperatively, most of the eyes (85 eyes in the LASIK group and 43 eyes in the PRK group) achieved UCVA line similar to the preoperative BCVA line. No significant complications at operation were seen in any PRK cases. For LASIK-treated eyes, five eyes (3.5%) had intraoperative flap complications, four incomplete flaps and one button hole. All these cases were treated with PRK after one month. All incomplete flap cases got final UCVA of 6/6, while buttonhole flap case achieved final UCVA of 6/18. Conclusions: The essential outcomes of both LASIK and PRK in this study show no significant differences in efficacy at 6-months follow-up. Both LASIK and PRK seems to be relatively effective and safe procedure for myopia and hypermetropia. PRK has the advantage of easier surgery without corneal flap complications, while LASIK offers the advantages of minimal discomfort and faster visual rehabilitation.
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