Elliptical excimer laser PK improves vision

Elliptical excimer laser penetrating keratoplasty (EELPK) is an effective method of improving visual acuity (VA), according to a report published in the November 2007 issue of Current Eye Research.

Nora Szentmary from the Friedrich Alexander University, Erlangen and colleagues from various centres across Germany and Hungary assessed the long-term refractive and visual outcomes of EELPK. The study included 17 phakic eyes, six of which underwent simultaneous cataract surgery.

Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improved from 0.2 preoperatively, to 0.65 following suture removal (p<0.001). After suture removal, keratometric and refractive cylinder increased and surface regularity index and surface asymmetry index decreased significantly (p=0.01).

This study suggests that EELPK can be an effective method of improving VA.