A long-term observation of laser in situ keratomileusis for myopia

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term results of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for the correction of myopia. METHODS: A total of 1 285 eyes with preoperative refraction of -1.50 - -25.00 diopters were treated with LASIK. Based on the preoperative refraction, the patients were divided into 3 groups (-1.50 - -6.00 D, -6.12 - -12.00 D, -12.12 - -25.00 D). The mean follow-up was 26.7 months and the results were concluded and analyzed. RESULTS: At two years, respectively 93.4%, 86.7% and 65.5% in the above three groups were within +/- 1.00 D, 84.4%, 79.7%, 42.1% were within +/- 0.50 D; the uncorrected visual acuity was >/= 0.5 in 99.6%, 93.8% and 62.6% of the patients, and 90.4%, 68.6%, and 27.2% had vision of >/= 1.0. Thirty-nine eyes with regression or under correction, and 2 eyes with epithelial ingrowth had been retreated with LASIK. CONCLUSIONS: LASIK is effective and safe for the correction of mild, moderate, high and super-high myopia. The results of follow-up for two years are stable.