One-year clinical results of photorefractive keratectomy with a solid-state laser for refractive surgery.

PURPOSE To investigate the safety, efficacy, and stability of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) performed with a newly developed solid-state laser after 1-year follow-up. METHODS The all-solid-state, Q-switched, frequency-shifted laser (LaserSoft; Katana Technologies, Berlin, Germany) with a Gaussian spot diameter of 0.2 mm and repetition rate of 1 kHz was used. Eleven eyes of six patients were treated with PRK. The mean outcome measures were uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), corneal topography, and corneal transparency. All patients were evaluated at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. RESULTS At 12-month follow-up no eye lost lines of BSCVA and UCVA improved in all eyes. All eyes were within +/- 1.00 diopters (D) and 8 (73%) eyes were within +/- 0.50 D of emmetropia. CONCLUSIONS Clinical results at 1 year were promising, with good safety, efficacy, and stability of the visual and refractive outcome.