[Long-term outcomes of PRK, LASIK and SMILE].
Suphi TaneriJennifer KnepperAnika RostH Burkhard DickPublished in: Der Ophthalmologe : Zeitschrift der Deutschen Ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft (2021)
Long-term studies with follow-up periods of at least 10 years have shown that PRK and LASIK treatment carried out in the early days of medical excimer lasers have a very high level of safety and late complications occurred only rarely. The effectiveness of particularly high corrections declined over time. In contrast, there was no clinically significant regression within the indications recommended by the KRC. The results of SMILE were not inferior to those of PRK and LASIK. In direct long-term comparisons no procedure showed a clear superiority. Due to technological improvements in hardware and software for both preoperative diagnostics and lasers, treatment performed nowadays is presumably even safer, more efficient and also more stable over a long period of time.