Structural and Functional Alterations in Patients with Amblyopia

Abstract

Objective: To determine the motor results after corneal refractive surgery with excimer laser in myopic patients with or without associated astigmatism.

Method: A pre-experimental study of the before and after type was carried out, in 81 patients (162 eyes) treated with LASEK-MMC (65 patients) or PRK-MMC (16 patients) followed up for three months. A complete ophthalmological examination was performed and the variables were evaluated near point of convergence, amplitude of convergence, divergence, and pre-surgery and postsurgery ocular alignment.

Results: A significant increase in the near point of convergence was observed with surgery (LASEK-MMC: p = 0.000 and PRK-MMC: p = 0.021). The amplitude of convergence near and far, as well as the amplitude of divergence tended to decrease, but the difference was not significant (p > 0.05). The percentage of patients with near exodeviations increased after LASEK-MMC surgery (26.2% → 60.0%, p = 0.000) and PRK-MMC (18.8% → 81.3%, p = 0.000), and small heterophoria predominated in both cases (LASEK-MMC: 52.3% and PRK-MMC: 75.0%).

Conclusions: The laser photoablative surgery increased postoperative exodeviations, but they were mainly small heterophoria, although a small number of patients developed new exodeviations.