Prophylactic laser photocoagulation for retinal breaks before LASIK / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

ABSTRACT

AIM: To assess the efficacy and safety of prophylactic laser photocoagulation for retinal breaks before laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) in myopic eyes.METHODS: From April 2000 to April 2004, totally 1 845 eyes ( 1 233 patients ) requesting LASIK had a fundus examination with indirect ophthalmoscopy before the surgery. They were divided into two groups according to the presence (Group 1) or absence of retinal breaks (Group 2). All patients with retinal breaks, though they were asymptomatic, underwent prophylactic laser photocoagulation to seal the breaks before LASIK.RESULTS: Patient age ranged from 18 to 43 ( 25.3±5.7) yaers old. Mean preoperative spherical equivalent refraction (PSER) was -7.44± 2.13 D (range, -1.50 to -14.50 D). Retinal breaks were identified and treated in 37eyes (2.05%) of 32 patients;1 808 eyes of 1 201 patients had no retinal breaks. No statistical difference was found in age ( P ＞0.05) or gender (P ＞0.05) between the two groups. Significant difference of PSER was noted between Group 1 (-9.41± 4.15D) and Group 2 (-7.52±3.71D) (P＜0.05). During a mean 14mo follow-up, none of the patients developed retinal detachment.CONCLUSION: The efficacy and safety of prophylactic laser photocoagulation for retinal breaks was confirmed.Retinal breaks should be identified and treated by photocoagulation in eyes before LASIK for myopia.