Transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy on the same day of the initial consultation for the correction of myopia

Purpose: To examine the clinical outcomes, efficacy, safety, and predictability of transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (Trans-PRK) operations performed on the day of the first screening visit in comparison with operations scheduled at a following appointment. Methods: Data of consecutive patients with myopia of various degrees, who underwent Trans-PRK, were retrospectively analyzed. Findings were compared between patients who underwent Trans-PRK on the same day of first consultation to patients that underwent surgery at subsequent visits, following initial consultation on a different day. Results: The study included 599 eyes treated on the initial visit day and 1936 eyes treated on a subsequent visit. Mean final spherical equivalent was close to emmetropia in both groups ( p = 0.183). Efficacy indices were 0.928 ± 0.192 in the initial-visit group and 0.945 ± 0.163 in the second-visit group ( p = 0.152). Safety indices were 0.954 ± 0.156 and 0.955 ± 0.151 ( p = 0.707), respectively. No differences between the groups were seen in uncorrected visual acuity (UDVA) of ⩾20/20, ⩾20/25, and ⩾20/32. Only the sub-analysis of patients reaching UDVA of 20/40 or better was slightly lower in the first-visit (95.5%) compared with the second-visit group (97.9%, p = 0.001). Results of attempted correction within ±0.50 D were: 63.3% and 69.0%, respectively ( p = 0.009). Complications profiles in the two groups were comparable. Conclusions: Trans-PRK completed on the day of the first screening appointment demonstrated a similar safety outcome compared with subsequent-visits procedures, and slightly lower, yet comparable, results regarding efficacy and predictability.