Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To determine the incidence of ocular pathology in a refractive surgery population. Methods: Retrospective chart review of 375 patients undergoing screening for laser vision correction. Results: The average age of patients screened was 45.9 years (21 to 69). Some form of ocular pathology was identified in 29.6% (111) of patients. Lattice degeneration was the most common identified pathology and was identified in 45 (6%) eyes of 30 patients. In descending order, other findings included choroidal nevus (3.2% eyes), pigment dispersion syndrome (1.6%), drusen (1.6%), corneal basement membrane dystrophy (1.47%), retinal hole (1.2%) and glaucoma, glaucoma suspect or ocular hypertension (1.3%). The following were identified in less than 1% of the population and included corneal guttata, retinoschisis, corneal arcus, hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium, pterygium, cellophane maculopathy, myelnated nerve fiber layer, iris cysts, band keratopathy, pseudotumor cerebri and retinal emboli. Conclusions: A variety of ocular pathologic conditions with potentially significant morbidity can be identified during a routine screening for laser vision correction. This highlights the importance of a meticulous preoperative examination.
Keywords: 544 refractive surgery • 548 refractive surgery: LASIK • 354 clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: prevalence/incidence