Disability glare after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy for myopia.

BACKGROUND: A change of corneal topography and haze after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) can reduce contrast sensitivity and cause glare. Both glare and contrast sensitivity can be examined in a reproducible manner with one instrument.

METHODS: We have used the Berkeley Glare Test to examine 46 eyes of 32 patients before and 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after excimer laser PRK for moderate to high myopia. Multiple regression analysis was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS: High contrast visual acuity showed a statistically significant deterioration during the first 6 months after PRK (p = 0.01); 1 year after treatment visual acuity returned to almost pretreatment levels (p = 0.2). High- and low contrast visual acuity under glare deteriorated significantly 3 months after PRK and had only risen slightly 1 year later (p < or = 0.0065). A similar development could be observed for the low contrast visual acuity without glare.

CONCLUSION: Although high contrast visual acuity recovers by 1 year after PRK, low contrast visual acuity and glare deteriorate significantly and do not recover, even after 1 year.