[Laser keratomileusis for correction of myopia]

Abstract

Laser keratomileusis with the excimer laser (193 nm) is a new method of refractive surgery. With this procedure a thin lenticule is ablated from the central cornea with submicron precision. The refraction changes achieved in 13 eyes ranged from 1.5 to 7.5 dpt. With this correction 92% of the treated eyes were within 1.0 dpt either way at 3 months after surgery, but after 6 months this proportion decreased to 77%. The best-corrected visual acuity recovers within 1 months to preoperative values. In all patients a slight subepithelial haze was detected with the slit-lamp in the early postoperative phase, but cleared within 4-6 months to a clinically non-significant level.