Authors' objectives:

This study assessed the results of photorefractive keratectomy on: refractive criteria, visual acuity criteria, adverse effects occurrence and patients' satisfaction by means of a prospective follow-up study.

Authors' results and conclusions: Clinical:At one year, no patient suffered any important visual impairment.89% of the eyes were within 1D (manifest refraction) of emmetropia. Twelve of 114 eyes had an uncorrected visual acuity less than 20/40; one eye had a best corrected visual acuity less than 20/40. No important corneal haze was recorded at 1 year; however, light corneal haze (or traces thereof) existed for 38/114 eyes, giving no clinical complaint. Various postoperative symptoms (mainly pain) were recorded. However, at one year, no patient had complaints of serious symptoms. Patients' satisfaction is high (mean=91 on a visual analogic scale ranking from 0 to 100). Results of the meta-analysis are consonant with these findings. Economic:In France, during years 1992-93, the technical costs bound to a photofractive keratectomy were about US$400, depending mainly on the depreciation method used for the laser itself.

Authors' recommendations: Conclusions:The CEDIT recommended a long-term (5 years) study of the patients' satisfaction and reoperation rate. Recommendations: The CEDIT recommended the creation of a common operative center for corneal surgery, to be used by the ophthalmology departments of the University Hospitals of Paris. Other output or dissemination activity: The follow-up study recommended by the CEDIT is to be made using a register of all photorefractive keratectomies done in the common operative center; the follow-up will be made by a periodic mail pooling of all discharged patients. A paper will be published later this year.

Authors' methods: Review

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://cedit.aphp.fr/

Year Published: 1994

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Organisation Name: Cellule Innovation of the AP-HP

Copyright: Comite d'Evaluation et de Diffusion des Innovations Technologiques (CEDIT)