Long-term follow-up of laser-assisted subepithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) for myopia in thin corneas

Session Details

Session Title: Surface Ablations for Correction of Ammetropias

Session Date/Time: Tuesday 16/09/2014 | 08:00-10:30

Paper Time: 08:12

Venue: Auditorium

First Author: : M.Garcia-Gonzalez SPAIN

Co Author(s): :    J. Sanchez-Pina   A. Rodero   P. Drake-Casanova   J. Paz   M. Teus  

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To evaluate the long-term outcomes of laser-assisted subepithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) with intraoperative use of mitomycin C (MMC) performed on thin corneas for the correction of myopia.

Setting:

Clínica Novovisión. Madrid. Spain.

Methods:

We included in the study 100 eyes with a preoperative central corneal thickness (CCT) thinner than 500 µm that underwent LASEK + MMC to correct their myopia with at least 4 years of follow-up. We evaluated the stability of visual acuity and refraction, the predictability, corneal keratometry, safety, efficacy, and postoperative complications at the examinations 3 months and the last postoperative visit performed in our clinic.

Results:

Preoperative CCT was 482.9 ± 14.7 µm (range, 433 to 499 µm). Preoperative spherical equivalent was -4.09 ± 2.3 diopters (D) (range, -0.75 to -11D). At the 3-month postoperative visit, mean CCT was 419.79 ± 32.6 µm (range, 340 to 485 µm). The last examination was performed 5.5 ± 1.3 years after surgery (range, 4 to 8 years). The best spectacle-corrected visual acuity remained stable during the follow-up. The uncorrected visual acuity showed a slight but statistically significant decrease (P=0.01) when compared with the 3-month postoperative visit. Both the sphere and cylinder showed a slight but statistically significant regression (P<0.05) in the comparison between 3 months and the last postoperative visit. Five years after the surgery, 85 eyes (85%) were within 0.50 D and 94 eyes (94%) eyes were within 1.00 D of emmetropia. The efficacy index showed a slight but significant decrease (P<0.05) in the comparison between 3 months and 5 years after the surgery. The safety index remained stable around 0.96. The topography did not show signs of corneal ectasia and the keratometry showed no increase in corneal power in any eye.

Conclusions:

LASEK with intraoperative use of MMC seems to be safe and effective to correct myopia in corneas thinner than 500 µm, with good visual and refractive outcomes in a 5-year follow-up.

Financial Interest:

NONE