Comparative Study of Seven-year Outcomes Following Laser In Situ Keratomileusis with those of Trans-epithelial Photorefractive Keratectomy.

Purpose: To compare the long-term outcomes of laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and trans-epithelial photorefractive keratectomy (tPRK). Methods: In this retrospective study, 23 eyes of LASIK patients were compared with 23 eyes of patients who underwent tPRK; none of who underwent retreatment. The cases were matched for refractive power and patient age. In all patients, visual acuity (VA), refractive power and corneal topography were evaluated between 6-months and 7-years postoperative. Results: At 7-years postoperative, uncorrected VA was 20/20 or better in 71.9% of the LASIK-treated eyes and in 68.7% of the tPRK-treated eyes. From 6-months to 7-years postoperative, both the LASIK- and tPRK-treated eyes developed a slight myopia (-0.18 D and -0.36 D, p=0.24), and a difference in corneal power change was observed between the LASIK (0.23 D steeper) and tPRK (0.57 D steeper) (p=0.05) eyes. Conclusion: At 7-years postoperative, a good surgical outcome was found in both the LASIK- and tPRK-treated eyes, yet myopic regression was more pronounced in the tPRK-treated eyes than in the LASIK-treated eyes.