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Improved excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy system
Author(s) -
van Saarloos Paul P.,
Constable Ian J.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
lasers in surgery and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1096-9101
pISSN - 0196-8092
DOI - 10.1002/lsm.1900130206
Subject(s) - photorefractive keratectomy , excimer laser , excimer , ophthalmology , laser , medicine , optics , materials science , cornea , physics
An improved 193 nm excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy system is described here. The delivery system was optimised to produce a smooth keratectomy bed, to minimise the healing response, and to reduce the regression of the refractive result. A spatial filtering system was used to smooth the energy distribution within each pulse, and the iris was adjusted for every pulse, to eliminate steps and other irregularities from the keratectomy profile. An image rotator was used to average out any remaining non‐uniformities in the energy distribution. The results from the first 39 eyes treated with this laser system with a maximum follow‐up of 18 months, are summarised. No epithelial healing problems were noticed, and little or no loss of corneal clarity was noted at any stage during healing. Twenty of the keratectomy procedures were normally sighted myopic corrections, with a maximum follow‐up of 5 months. Minimal regression of the refractive correction was seen during the first 8 weeks. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.