Bilateral myopic photorefractive keratectomy in a 14-year-old boy

CONTEXT: Refractive surgery has been performed for more than 10 years. Laser-assisted intrastromal keratomileusis (LASIK) and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) may be used in accommodative esotropia either in adolescent or in adult patients. Some authors have shown that LASIK is safe, effective, and stable at 10 years follow-up post-surgery. CASE REPORT: A 14-year-old boy was admitted to our outpatient department on 08-01-2008. Together with his parents he asked for both eyes to be operated on by myopic PRK. On September 5(th) 2008 a myopic PRK was performed on his right eye and on September 12(th) 2008 on his left eye. A Bausch & Lomb Z172 excimer laser was used to perform a Planoscan procedure on both eyes. Uncorrected visual acuity was 1.0 after both procedures. The patient did not suffer pain, haze or glare in postoperative follow-up. CONCLUSION: Apart from the surgical technique, the author raises questions about the ethics of this procedure in a young boy.