Tertiary referrals in refractive surgery: 10 years of Dutch experience

Session Details

Session Title: Corneal, Scleral and Pharmaceutical Treatment of Presbyopia

Session Date/Time: Monday 09/10/2017 | 16:30-18:00

Paper Time: 16:54

Venue: Meeting Center Room I

First Author: : N.Wiercx van Rhijn THE NETHERLANDS

Co Author(s): :    I. van der Meulen   C. Nieuwendaal   M. Mourits   R. Lapid-Gortzak           

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To report an analysis of a cohort of tertiary referrals after refractive surgery.

Setting:

Academic Medical Center (AMC) in Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Methods:

A prospective database was analyzed of all patients seen for complaints following diverse kinds of refractive surgery (corneal laser surgery, scleral imbrication, phakic implants and refractive lens exchanges, or any combination thereof) between October 1, 2006, to September 30, 2016. This included the cohort that we have previously followed for 5 years between October 1, 2006, to September 30, 2011. The cohort was analyzed for the following outcome measures: type of refractive surgery, type of complaint, diagnosis at our center, type of treatment given and rate and type of surgery, and incidence of severe visual loss.

Results:

A total of 263 eyes (150 patients) were included. Most patients underwent corneal refractive surgery (203 eyes, 77.2%) followed by refractive lens exchange (30 eyes, 11.4%) and phakic intraocular lens (PIOL) implantation (25 eyes, 9.5%). Scleral imbrication was performed at 1 patient. Most common diagnoses were dry eyes, residual refractive error and cataract. Most patients (178 eyes, 67.7%) were treated conservatively. Surgical intervention was performed to 61 patients (85 eyes, 32.3%). In two eyes severe visual loss was seen.

Conclusions:

The most common complaint was related to dry eye symptoms or a residual refractive error. Severe visual loss from refractive surgery was rare and mainly seen with phakic intraocular lens implantation. Some of these lead to legal blindness and multiple surgeries. Exact data on incidence and severity of post refractive surgery complications is lacking. Based on our data and extrapolation from the amount of refractive surgery being done in the Netherlands, severe complications and severe visual loss are rare after refractive surgery.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE