Prospective evaluation of intraocular lens calculation after myopic refractive surgery.

PURPOSE: To evaluate outcome after refractive surgery in cataract patients for whom intraocular lens (IOL) selection was based on the use of a myopic regression formula. METHODS: This prospective case series included 20 eyes of 14 patients who had previous uncomplicated myopic refractive surgery, followed by uncomplicated cataract extraction with IOL implantation. Calculation of IOL was based on flattest keratometry readings, spherical equivalent refraction before refractive surgery, and an adjustment factor derived from the regression formula: -(0.47x + 0.85). Following cataract extraction, refractive error was compared against refractive aim. The power of IOL obtained by the regression formula (IOL(RF)) was compared to those obtained using the clinical history method at the spectacle plane (IOL(HisKs)) and the Double-K formula (LOL(DoubleK)). The results acquired with each technique were compared with those achieved using an IOL back-calculated for emmetropia (IOL(exact)). RESULTS: Using the regression formula, IOL calculations produced postoperative cataract extraction refractions within 1.00 diopter (D) (range: -1.00 to 0.78 D) of the intended outcome. Mean spherical equivalent refraction after cataract extraction was -0.31 +/- 0.56 D. Twelve of 20 eyes had sufficient data to evaluate the statistical relationships among the three formulas compared with IOL(exact). Paired t test results revealed IOL(RF) (P = .0932) and IOL(HisKs) (P = .9955) were not statistically different from IOL(exact) whereas IOL(DoubleK) was statistically different from IOL(exact) (P = .0008). CONCLUSIONS: The myopic regression formula is recommended for postoperative myopic LASIK IOL selection to provide a simple, accurate, and consistent method of predicting IOL calculation that is not statistically different from IOL(exact).

Effect of punctal plugs in patients with low refractive errors considering refractive surgery.

PURPOSE: To study the effect of punctal plug placement in patients undergoing refractive surgery for correction of poor vision. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed of 12 patients (21 eyes) who presented for initial refractive surgery or retreatment after LASIK or photorefractive keratectomy to improve visual acuity. Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) was documented in each eye. If tear normalization test was positive (indicating dry eye), silicone punctal plugs were placed in the lower lids of both eyes. Subjective patient UCVA and Snellen UCVA were assessed at 1 month. RESULTS: At 1 month, two eyes improved by three Snellen lines, nine eyes improved by two lines, seven eyes improved by one line, and three eyes remained unchanged. Uncorrected visual acuity was considered statistically significant (P < .0001) using the paired t test. No eye demonstrated decrease in visual acuity. One patient experienced punctal plug extrusion in both eyes. No other adverse outcomes were reported. One patient pursued additional refractive surgery after plug placement. No patient requested plug removal. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with low refractive errors note improvement in visual acuity after punctal plug placement.

Intraocular lens calculations after hyperopic refractive surgery.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of hyperopic refractive surgery on intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation, compare published methods of IOL power calculation after refractive surgery, evaluate the effect of prerefractive surgery refractive error on IOL deviation, and introduce a new alternative formula for IOL calculation in patients who have had refractive surgery for hyperopia. DESIGN: Retrospective noncomparative case series. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty eyes from 13 patients who had undergone cataract surgery after previous hyperopic refractive surgery. METHODS: Seven different methods of IOL calculation were performed retrospectively: clinical history (IOL(hisK)), clinical history method at spectacle plane (IOL(hisKs)), vertex (IOL(vertex)), back calculated (IOL(BC)), calculation based on average keratometry (IOL(avgK)), calculation based on steepest keratometry (IOL(steepK)), and calculation based on the double K formula (IOL(doubleK)). Each method's result was compared with an exact IOL (IOL(exact)), which would have resulted in emmetropia. Each method was then compared with change in spherical equivalent induced by refractive surgery (SE(h)). A paired t test was used to determine statistical significance. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Mean error in IOL power prediction for each method when compared to IOL(exact). RESULTS: When evaluating different methods of IOL calculations, IOL(vertex) was the most accurate, with a mean deviation from emmetropia of 0.42+/-1.75 diopters (D), followed by IOL(BC) (+0.54+/-1.86 D), IOL(hisK) (+1.56+/-2.35 D), IOL(hisKs) (+1.57+/-2.35 D), IOL(steepK) (+1.59+/-2.25 D), IOL(doubleK) (+1.65+/-2.56 D), and IOL(avgK) (+2.24+/-2.46 D). There was no statistical difference between IOL(vertex), IOL(BC), and IOL(exact). The power of IOL(avgK) would be inaccurate by 0.27x+1.53, where x = SE(h). Thus, most patients without the adjustment to IOL(avgK) would be left myopic. However, when IOL(avgK) is adjusted with this formula, there is no statistical difference to IOL(exact). CONCLUSIONS: For IOL power selection in previously hyperopic patients, a predictive formula based only on SE(h) and current average keratometry readings was not found to statistically differ from IOL(exact). The IOL(vertex) and IOL(BC), which also did not statistically differ from IOL(exact), require prerefractive surgery keratometry readings that are often not available to the cataract surgeon.

Transverse keratotomy followed by LASIK for the treatment of naturally occurring astigmatism.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of transverse keratotomy followed by LASIK for patients with high amounts of naturally occurring astigmatism. METHODS: Thirteen eyes with naturally occurring astigmatism ranging from -3.75 to -6.50 diopters (D) underwent sequential transverse keratotomy (60 degrees at 6 mm) and LASIK procedures. The effect of these two procedures on the amount of astigmatism was studied. RESULTS: Transverse keratotomy led to a 46% reduction in refractive cylinder from -5.50 +/- 0.80 D to -3.00 +/- 1.00 D. After LASIK, the initial refractive astigmatism was reduced by 90% to -0.50 +/- 0.50 D with a minimum follow-up of 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: The combined technique of transverse keratotomy followed by LASIK is an effective and accurate way to treat high amounts of naturally occurring astigmatism, allowing the size of the optical zone of the excimer laser ablation to be maximized.

Optic pit maculopathy after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis.

CASE REPORT: Optic disc pit is an embryological malformation of the optic nerve that occurs in less than one in 10,000 people. It is 10%-15% bilateral, and 25% to 70% of patients develop a neurosensory macular detachment within the 2nd to 4th decade. COMMENTS: We report a case of unilateral optic disc pit maculopathy 2 months after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) revision.

Effect of artificial tears on visual acuity.

PURPOSE: To study the effect of commonly used preservative free artificial tear, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) 0.5% (Refresh Plus, Allergan, Irvine, California) on visual acuity in symptomatic dry eye (SDE) and asymptomatic dry eye (ADE) patients. DESIGN: Nonrandomized prospective clinical trial. METHODS: Prospective study involving 20 patients (40 eyes) with SDE and 20 patients (40 eyes) with ADE, all 40 years and older, were recruited from a clinic setting over a 1-month period. Distance visual acuity was measured by the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) vision chart and near visual acuity was measured by the Lighthouse Near Vision chart before and 30 seconds after instillation of one drop of CMC. Distance and near visual acuity was measured both with and without correction. The duration of action of CMC was measured at 1-minute intervals until the patient's visual acuity returned to pretear level. RESULTS: In both SDE and ADE groups, uncorrected and corrected near and distance vision showed a statistically significant improvement after the use of CMC (P < .05). There was no statistically significant difference in improvement between the SDE and ADE groups in all categories (P values > .05). The mean duration of improvement of vision was 2.93 minutes in the SDE group and 3.70 minutes in the ADE group (P = .036). CONCLUSIONS: CMC 0.5% provides a temporary yet significant improvement in the visual acuity of SDE and ADE patients. The effect of artificial tears on visual acuity may be of diagnostic value in detecting ocular surface abnormality in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients.

Traumatic flap dislocation 4 years after laser in situ keratomileusis.

We present a case of late traumatic flap dislocation 47 months after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). This is the latest reported case of traumatic LASIK flap dislocation to date. The patient was examined 5 days after being struck in the face and found to have a flap dislocation. The flap was repositioned surgically, and postoperatively the patient had 20/20 visual acuity and no visual complaints.

Intraocular lens calculations after refractive surgery.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of refractive surgery on intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation, compare methods of IOL power calculation after refractive surgery, evaluate the effect of pre-refractive surgery refractive error on IOL deviation, review the literature on determining IOL power after refractive surgery, and introduce a formula for IOL calculation for use after refractive surgery for myopia. SETTING: Laser & Corneal Surgery Associates and Center for Ocular Tear Film Disorders, New York, New York, USA. METHODS: This retrospective noncomparative case series comprised 21 patients who had uneventful cataract extraction and IOL implantation after previous uneventful myopic refractive surgery. Six methods of IOL calculation were used: clinical history (IOL(HisK)), clinical history at the spectacle plane (IOL(HisKs)), vertex (IOL(vertex)), back-calculated (IOL(BC)), calculation based on average keratometry (IOL(avgK)), and calculation based on flattest keratometry (IOL(flatK)). Each method result was compared to an "exact" IOL (IOL(exact)) that would have resulted in emmetropia and then compared to the pre-refractive surgery manifest refraction using linear regression. The paired t test was used to determine statistical significance. RESULTS: The IOL(HisKs) was the most accurate method for IOL calculations, with a mean deviation from emmetropia of -0.56 diopter +/-1.59 (D), followed by the IOL(BC) (+1.06 +/- 1.51 D), IOL(vertex) (+1.51 +/- 1.95 D), IOL(flatK) (-1.72 +/- 2.19 D), IOL(HisK) (-1.76 +/- 1.76 D), and IOL(avgK) (-2.32 +/- 2.36 D). There was no statistical difference between IOL(HisKs) and IOL(exact) in myopic eyes. The power of IOL(flatK) would be inaccurate by -(0.47x+0.85), where x is the pre-refractive surgery myopic SE (SEQ(m)). Thus, without adjusting IOL(flatK), most patients would be left hyperopic. However, when IOL(flatK) is adjusted with this formula, it would not be statistically different from IOL(exact). CONCLUSIONS: For IOL power selection in previously myopic patients, a predictive formula to calculate IOL power based only on the pre-refractive surgery SEQ(m) and current flattest keratometry readings was not statistically different from IOL(exact). The IOL(HisKs), which was also not statistically different from IOL(exact), requires pre-refractive surgery keratometry readings that are often not available to the cataract surgeon.

Advanced epithelial ingrowth 6 months after laser in situ keratomileusis.

Epithelial ingrowth is a common complication of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). The cause is thought to be postoperative invasion of surface epithelial cells under the flap. We present a case of advanced epithelial cystic ingrowth that caused a profound reduction in visual acuity 6 months after a second LASIK enhancement.

Infectious keratitis after photorefractive keratectomy.

PURPOSE: To elucidate risk factors, microbial culture results, and visual outcomes for infectious keratitis after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). DESIGN: Multicenter, retrospective chart review, case report, and literature review. METHODS: The records of 12 patients with infectious keratitis after PRK were reviewed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Causative organism, response to medical treatment, and visual outcome. RESULTS: Infectious keratitis developed in 13 eyes of 12 patients after PRK. Organisms cultured were Staphylococcus aureus (n = 5), including a bilateral case of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus epidermidis (n = 4); Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 3); and Streptococcus viridans (n = 1). Four patients manipulated their contact lenses, and 2 patients were exposed to nosocomial organisms while working in a hospital environment. Prophylactic antibiotics used were tobramycin (nine cases), polymyxin B-trimethoprim (three cases), and ciprofloxacin (one case). Final best spectacle-corrected visual acuity ranged from 20/20 to 20/100. CONCLUSIONS: Infectious corneal ulceration is a serious potential complication of PRK. Gram-positive organisms are the most common pathogens. Antibiotic prophylaxis should be broad spectrum and should include gram-positive coverage.

To lift or recut: changing trends in LASIK enhancement.

PURPOSE: To report serious complications caused by recutting laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) flaps for enhancement and reconsider the current preferred method of LASIK enhancement. SETTING: Multiple surgeon practices. METHODS: This retrospective noncomparative nonconsecutive case series comprised LASIK patients in the private practices of 9 experienced refractive surgeons and those reported in a survey of refractive surgeons. Case histories, refractions, corneal topographies, slitlamp photographs, and measurements of uncorrected and best corrected (BCVA) visual acuity after recutting LASIK flaps were collected. Surveys of refractive surgeons and an analysis of changing practice trends among the authors and these surgeons were assessed. RESULTS: In 12 cases, significant loss of BCVA and subjective visual difficulties resulted from recutting LASIK flaps. Most surveyed surgeons had changed their practice from recutting to lifting flaps even 9 to 10 years postoperatively with good results. CONCLUSION: Recutting flaps for enhancement should be avoided unless other alternatives are unavailable.