Clinical Outcome of Retreatment after Refractive Surgery

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical outcome of retreatment after refractive surgery. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 38 eyes of 24 patients who received retreatment surgery after refractive surgery from August 2008 to May 2013 was performed. Pre-initial surgery characteristics and the reason for retreatment were investigated, and preand post-retreatment uncorrected visual acuity, best corrected visual acuity, safety index, efficacy index, predictability, and postoperative complication were also investigated. RESULTS: Age at initial refractive surgery and retreatment were 28.50 +/- 7.29 years (17-49 years) and 31.21 +/- 6.49 years (21-49 years). Reasons for retreatment were myopic regression in 36 eyes (94.7%) and overcorrection in two eyes (5.3%). Methods of retreatment were laser subepithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) in 31 eyes (81.6%) and laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) in seven eyes (18.4%). Safety index values for all were above 1.0 and efficacy index values were 0.92, 0.93, and 0.95 in postoperative examination at 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months, respectively. No eye showed a decrease in best corrected visual acuity. One eye had transient hyperopia after retreatment, and two eyes had postoperative corneal opacity, but no eye experienced significant alteration in visual prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Retreatment after refractive surgery was an efficient and safe clinical course in our clinic. No long-term complications were observed, and uncorrected visual acuity and refractive errors significantly improved after retreatment. In particular, LASEK can be considered as a safe and efficient retreatment modality without risk of keratectasia.