OBJECTIVE: Compare PRK and Epi-LASIK techniques regarding postoperative visual recovery and symptoms. METHODS: Interventional case series study including 38 eyes of 19 patients with myopia up to 5DE and astigmatism up to 1DC. Study included patients with similar refractive errors to be submitted to PRK in one eye and Epi-LASIK in the fellow eye at the same time. Follow-up was 1 year and included refractive error analysis and postoperative discomfort. RESULTS: During the first 12 hours after surgery, 79% (P=0,0003) of patients reported more pain and discomfort in the eye submitted to Epi-LASIK. Twenty-four hours after surgery 63,2% (P=0,012) of patients still referred more pain in the eye submitted to Epi-LASIK and only 10,5% in the contralateral eye. Uncorrected visual acuity was better on the PRK group at the 1th day (p=0.034). No difference was observed at the other postoperative days after surgery. Postoperative corneal haze 0,5 (Fantes) was observed in three eyes of the PRK group and in two days of the Epi-LASIK group. CONCLUSION: Both groups presented good visual refractive results, but the Epi-LASIK group presented more discomfort immediately after surgery.
Photorefractive keratectomy; Visual acuity; Pain; Treatment outcome; Myopia; Astigmatism
