Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and ganglion cell complex following LASIK with femtosecond laser flap creation

Abstract

Purpose: To study the influence of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) with femtosecond laser flap creation on the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and ganglion cell complex (GCC).

Methods: One hundred eyes from one hundred myopic patients received uneventful bilateral LASIK were recruited. Corneal flap at superior hinge was created with femtosecond laser. For each patient, either the eye with a greater amount of myopia reduction, or the right eye if both eyes had the same amount of myopia reduction was included. RNFL and GCC were measured using a spectral-domain optical coherence tomography at baseline, and one-day and one-month after the LASIK procedures.

Results: There was no significant difference between the two eyes at baseline in terms of the amount of myopia (spherical equivalent) and the central corneal thickness (CCT). On day one, the average (+/- standard deviation) myopia reduction was found to be 6.62+/-2.29D and with CCT thinning of 129.9+/-45.5um. There was no significant difference in the Average RNFL as well as RNFL at the four quadrants (Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance, RMANOVA, p > 0.05). The Average GCC and GCC at both the superior and inferior regions did not reach any significant difference (RMANOVA, p > 0.05).

Conclusions: Myopia LASIK with femtosecond laser flap does not affect RNFL and GCC measurements.

Keywords: 531 ganglion cells • 578 laser • 610 nerve fiber layer