Full-thickness Macular Hole after Laser in situ Keratomileusis (LASIK)

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To describe ten patients who developed unilateral macular hole after undergoing bilateral laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). Methods: Case series. Results: Ten eyes (10 patients) developed a macular hole in one eye after bilateral LASIK for the correction of ammetropia. The macular hole formed between 1 to 30 moths after LASIK. Ninety percent of patients were female. Mean age was 42.5 years old (25-58). Ninety percent of eyes were myopic (-0.50 to -15.25 diopters [D]). Posterior vitreous detachment was not present before and was documented after LASIK on 80% of eyes. A vitrectomy closed the macular hole on all six eyes that underwent surgical management with an improvement on final best-corrected visual acuity on all patients. Our ten patients (eyes) with full-thickness macular hole after LASIK reflect an incidence of 0.02% (10/46,486). Conclusions: A macular hole may develop after LASIK but is infrequent. Laser in situ keratomileusis should be added to the list of conditions or surgical procedures that may be associated with formation of a macular hole. Vitreoretinal interface changes may play a role.

Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: out • refractive surgery: complications • macular holes