Clinical Manifestation for Iatrogenic Keratectasia after Laser in Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK)

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study was devised to report the clinical manifestations of the eyes developing keratectasia after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). METHODS: In this retrospective study, among the 204 patients (408 eyes) who had LASIK between January 1996 and December 2001, charts of eleven patients (14 eyes) who developed post-LASIK keratectasia were reviewed. The mean follow-up was 36.18 months (range 12 to 67 months). RESULTS: Pre-LASIK corneal topographies of the patients shows that asymmetric bow tie pattern was the most common topographical finding (42.86%). The postoperative remaining corneal bed thickness (221.625 micro meter) of bilaterally afftected group was significantly lower than that (240.75 micro meter) of the unilaterally affected group (p=.0208), and the preoperative mean keratometric value (44.40D) was significantly higher than that of unilaterally affected group (p=.0212). The change of spherical equivalent and cylinder diopter value after LASIK was most prominent between one and four months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: LASIK is a highly effective procedure for correcting myopia, but in order to prevent serious postoperative complications such as keratectasia, we should be aware of the incitng factors listed above.