Incidence and risk factors for epithelial ingrowth following LASIK

Session Details

Session Title: Investigations and Complications Management

Session Date/Time: Tuesday 13/09/2016 | 13:30-15:15

Paper Time: 14:50

Venue: Hall C3

First Author: : A.Friehmann ISRAEL

Co Author(s): :    M. Mimouni   I. Kaiserman                 

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Epithelial ingrowth following laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) is a potentially devastating complication occurring in 0.03% to 9.1% of cases. A paucity of data exists regarding the potential risk factors, therefore, the aim of this study was to identify factors that predict epithelial ingrowth following LASIK.

Setting:

Care-Vision Laser Centers, Tel-Aviv, Israel.

Methods:

This retrospective study included consecutive patients who underwent laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) between January 2000 and December 2014 by multiple surgeons. Inclusion criteria were age > 18 years; a stable refraction for at least 12 months; IOP < 21 mm Hg; a period without wearing contact lenses (> 2 weeks for rigid contact lenses,> 4 days for soft contact lenses); no history of autoimmune disease, diabetes or previous ocular surgery. We included patients with myopia upto -12 D or hyperopia upto +6 D or with a cylinder of up to 6D.

Results:

Of 70,056 eyes included in the study, 168 developed epithelial ingrowth (0.24%). The most common causes of epitheliel ingrowth were idiopathic (85%), hyperopic correction (10%), previous refractive surgery (4%) and flap instability (1%).

Conclusions:

In our study, the largest so far, the incidence was relatively low when compared to previous reports. In most cases an explanation could not be found afterwhich the most common causes were hyperopia, previous treatment and flap related complications.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE