Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To evaluate the outcome and complications of LASEK in patients unfit for LASIK Methods: TwoHundred and nine eyes among 117 consecutive patients were included in this study. All patients underwent LASEK using Keracor 217z excimer laser (Bausch & Lomb).Mean age was 29.7 years (Range 19 – 48 yrs).The mean pre–operative epherical equivalent (SE) was –4.41 D (Range –1.0D to –12.50D).The mean pre–operative corneal thickness was 529.4 um (Range 482 – 637 um) and mean ablation depth was 82.25 um.The mean pre–operative posterior surface elevation was 28.8 um. Patients were not fit for LASIK for the following reasons :thin cornea in 61(29.2%) eyes out of the 209 eyes,low residual corneal thickness in 49(23.4%)eyes ,high keratoconus index in 34(16.2%) eyes or presence of posterior surface hot spot in 29(13.9%) eyes. Follow up was for a mean period of 18 months (Range 6–36 months) Results: Following LASEK the SE was within +/– 1 D in 200(95.7%) eyes and was within +/–0.50 D in 148(70.8%) eyes.One hundred seventy (81.5%) eyes achieved the pre–operative BCVA and 29(13.8%) eyes were within one line .After six months 167(80.2%) eyes showed no haze while 26(12.2%)eyes showed minimal haze and 16(7.6%) eyes showed mild haze.Fourteen (12.1%) patients reported no pain in the first post–operative 24 hours while 79(67.5%) patients reported mild pain. Three (2.7%) patients reported severe pain in the first post–operative 24 hours. The mean post–operative corneal thickness was 417 um (Range 320 –615um) and mean post–operative posterior surface elevation was 46.24 um. After a minimum follow up period of two years ,there was no case of posterior corneal ectasia . Conclusions: LASEK is a safe ,effective and predictable procedure in the treatment of myopia in patients where LASIK is contraindicated.
Keywords: refractive surgery: comparative studies • refractive surgery: other technologies • refractive surgery: LASIK