May 2008
Volume 49, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   May 2008
Efficacy, Safety and Stability of LASEK
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • J. G. Grigsby
    Laser Network, Midland, Texas
    VisionHealth Specialties, Midland, Texas
  • S. Patel
    University of Houston, Houston, Texas
  • K. Vasquez
    Laser Network, Midland, Texas
  • M. Tschoepe
    Realeyes, New Braunfels, Texas
  • T. R. Walters
    LaserView, Austin, Texas
  • R. G. Sheets
    VisionHealth Specialties, Midland, Texas
  • B. J. Cook
    VisionHealth Specialties, Midland, Texas
  • D. K. Neely
    VisionHealth Specialties, Midland, Texas
  • D. M. Allen
    University of Texas, Permian Basin, Odessa, Texas
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  J.G. Grigsby, None; S. Patel, None; K. Vasquez, None; M. Tschoepe, None; T.R. Walters, None; R.G. Sheets, None; B.J. Cook, None; D.K. Neely, None; D.M. Allen, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support  None.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science May 2008, Vol.49, 2909. doi:
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      J. G. Grigsby, S. Patel, K. Vasquez, M. Tschoepe, T. R. Walters, R. G. Sheets, B. J. Cook, D. K. Neely, D. M. Allen; Efficacy, Safety and Stability of LASEK. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2008;49(13):2909.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Purpose: : Laser epithelial keratomileusis (LASEK), a relatively new alternative to PRK, was developed to reduce complications arising from the surgical creation of a corneal flap during the LASIK procedure. Increased exposure of the corneal stroma to cytokines due to an absence of epithelium during the healing response can result in haze and reduce the predictability and stability of the refractive prescription. It is not clear whether LASEK can avoid these problems and whether it provides a significant benefit to the recipient.

Methods: : A retrospective analysis was performed on 191 eyes of 99 patients who underwent LASEK. Of this cohort, 162 eyes of 84 patients were available for 3 month and 127 eyes of 66 patients were available for 6 month follow-up. Procedures were performed on patients whose spherical equivalent refractions were from plano to -8.00 diopters (D). LASEK was performed with a 30" exposure of a 20% solution of dehydrated ETOH in sterile water. Ablations were created with a Visx Star 4 or Star 4 IR platform using standard ablation, Customvue©, or Customvue IR©. Ablations deeper than 100 microns were treated post-operatively with a 15" exposure of 0.02% Mitomycin C. Bio-microscopy was performed at every post-operative visit while both refraction and bio-microscopy were performed at every post-operative visit beginning with week 2.

Results: : No significant differences were found in refractions performed at 3 months or 6 months. Six month data on all LASEK corrections revealed 89% of eyes were corrected to a spherical equivalent (SEQ) of ± 0.50 D and 95% of eyes were corrected to a SEQ of ± 1.00 D. Customvue© corrections in the LASEK group <= 5 D had post-operative 6 month refractions (SEQ) in 93% of patients within ± 0.50 and 95% within ± 1.00 with a average physician adjustment of -0.10 D. In the Customvue© group > 5 D the results dropped to 77% within ± 0.50 D and 91% within ± 1.00 D, with an average physician adjustment of -0.13 D. This was largely the result of a number of over-corrections in the sub-group (n=18) with pre-operative refractions greater than -6 D. No cases of corneal haze greater than a trace were noted in any eyes. All eyes maintained a best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 20/20.

Conclusions: : LASEK provides a predictable alternative to LASIK with similar refractive outcomes. Post-operative prescriptions were stable between 3 and 6 months and no loss of BCVA or development of clinically significant haze were documented in the study patients.

Keywords: refractive surgery: other technologies • refractive surgery • refractive surgery: LASIK 
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