Predictors For Retreatment Following Prk For High Myopia
Published 2026 - 44th Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: FP27.01 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/wwnv-pw49
Authors: Dr Waseem Nasser* 1 , Dr Adir Sommer 2 , Dr Dror Ben Ephraim Noyman 2 , Dr Margarita Safir 3 , Mr Tzahi Sela 4 , Mr Gur Munzer 4 , Prof. Igor Kaiserman 5 , Dr Eyal Cohen 6 , Prof. Michael Mimouni 7
1Ophthalmology,Rambam Health Care Campus,Haifa,Israel;Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine,Technion - Israel Institute of Technology,Haifa,Israel, 2Ophthalmology,Rambam Health Care Campus,Haifa,Israel, 3Ophthalmology,Rabin Medical Center,Petah Tikva,Israel;Sackler School of Medicine,Tel Aviv University,Tel Aviv,Israel, 4Care-Vision Laser Center,Tel Aviv,Israel, 5Ophthalmology,Barzilai Medical Center,Ashkelon,Israel;Faculty of Health Sciences,Ben-Gurion University of the Negev,Beer Sheba,Israel;Care-Vision Laser Center,Tel Aviv,Israel, 6Ophthalmology,Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center,Tel Aviv,Israel;Sackler School of Medicine,Tel Aviv University,Tel Aviv,Israel;Care-Vision Laser Center,Tel Aviv,Israel, 7Ophthalmology,Rambam Health Care Campus,Haifa,Israel;Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine,Technion - Israel Institute of Technology,Haifa,Israel;Care-Vision Laser Center,Tel Aviv,Israel
Purpose
This study aims to identify risk factors for retreatment following photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in eyes with high myopia.
Setting
Care Vision Laser Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Methods
This retrospective cohort study included eyes with high myopia (spherical equivalent [SEQ] ≤ −6.0 D) that underwent primary PRK between January 2013 and June 2022 at Care Vision Laser Centers, Israel. All procedures were performed using the EX500 excimer laser. Eyes were categorized as control or retreatment based on whether a subsequent corneal refractive procedure was performed during follow-up. Preoperative and intraoperative parameters were compared using independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U, Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests, where appropriate. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of retreatment.
Results
Overall, 12,995 eyes (7,185 patients) were included in the study, of which 52 eyes (0.4%) underwent retreatment. Preoperatively, age, pachymetry, keratometry, subjective SEQ, and sphere did not differ between groups. The retreatment group had a higher proportion of males (67.3% vs 52.5%, P<0.05) and a higher prevalence of hard contact lens wear (7.7% vs 0.6%, P<0.001). Intraoperatively, treated refraction and ablation depth were similar, while retreatment eyes underwent primary PRK in earlier years (P<0.001). On multivariable regression, hard contact lens use (OR 12.95, 95% CI 4.12–40.72), male sex (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.01–3.32), and earlier surgical year (OR 0.64 per year, 95% CI 0.56–0.73) were independently associated with retreatment.
Conclusions
Hard contact lens use is a significant predictor for retreatment after PRK in eyes with high myopia. Male sex was identified as an additional predictor for retreatment. Identifying these risk factors enables tailored preoperative counseling and optimized surgical planning to reduce the likelihood of retreatment.