Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate patients with previous LASIK surgery in regard to functional and morphologic long-term stability, post-operative complications, and patients’ satisfaction.
Methods: :
Twenty patients (age: 47.5±9.4 yrs; range: 37 to 60 yrs) treated with LASIK (post-op time: 8.2±2.3 yrs; range: 5 to 13 yrs) for myopia were included. Pre- and post-op refraction, visual acuity, and pachymetry measurements (Visante® OCT, Pentacam® HR) were performed. A satisfaction questionnaire was completed by each patient.
Results: :
Thirty-six eyes of 20 patients (female/male = 14/6) were analyzed. LASIK resulted in a decrease of the spherical equivalent (pre-op: -6.9±5.4D; post-op: -1.3±1.5D) and an increase of the visual acuity in all patients (pre-op: 0.7±0.3; post-op: 0.9±0.3). Pre-op corneal thickness (mean±SD) was 563.3±22.1µm and the mean (±SD) stromal ablation depth was 71.6±26.7µm. Post-op pachymetry measurements (mean±SD) were 485.7±39.7µm (Visante® OCT) and 475.1±40.1µm (Pentacam® HR). Post-op complications included flap-dislocation in 2 pts; LASIK enhancement was required in 5 pts. Patients’ satisfaction was high and major ocular side-effects were denied.
Conclusions: :
Although LASIK procedures were performed using different technical standards long-term evaluation demonstrates good functional and morphologic results with high patient’s satisfaction even 13 years postoperatively.
Keywords: refractive surgery: LASIK • refractive surgery: corneal topography • cornea: clinical science