Comparison of Aberrations after Photorefractive Keratectomy Using Tissue Saving and Personalized Techniques

To compare the effects of standard tissue saving method and personalized techniques of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) on aberration changes in fellow eyes.

This randomized controlled trial was performed on patients who were referred to Isfahan Parsian Clinic during 2007. After a comprehensive ophthalmologic examination, PRK was randomly performed using tissue saving (TS) technique in one eye and personalized (P) technique in the fellow eye. Aberrometry was performed pre- and 6 months postoperatively.

This study included 296 eyes of 148 (67 male and 81 female) patients with mean age of 29.1±7.0 years. The two groups had no significant difference in terms of laterality, pupil size and level of myopia preoperatively (P=0.65). Uncorrected visual acuity was 20/25 or more in 88.9% of the TS group and 92.6% of the P group (P=0.83). Mean refractive error 6 months postoperatively was -0.50±0.36 diopter (D) in the TS group and 0.31±0.43 D in the P group (P=0.95). Mean root-mean-square (RMS) value was -0.41±0.17 preoperatively and 0.86±0.43 postoperatively in the group TS (P<0.01). Corresponding figures were 0.47±0.39 and 0.77±0.43 in the P group (P<0.01). The two groups did not differ regarding pre- and postoperative RMS.

Postoperative aberrations may be increased with both tissues saving and personalized techniques of PRK with no significant difference between them in this regard.