Correlation of temperature and humidity to the incidence of LASIK flap striae in a very high volume refractive surgery center

Session Details

Session Title: LASIK Outcomes I

Session Date/Time: Tuesday 16/09/2014 | 14:00-16:00

Paper Time: 14:52

Venue: Boulevard B

First Author: : R.Krueger USA

Co Author(s): :    N. Hashemi   M. Tomita           

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To correlate temperature and humidity to the incidence of flap striae after LASIK performed by experienced surgeons at a single center between July 2007 and April 2012.

Setting:

Very High Volume LASIK Center in Tokyo

Methods:

Data on all LASIK cases performed at the Shinagawa LASIK Center in Tokyo between July 2007 and April 2012 was reviewed and organized by month for total LASIK cases as well as the total number of eyes with striae requiring flap realignment. Statistical analysis was then performed to determine any significant difference in incidence by month, season, and year. Using data from the Japan Meteorological Agency, average monthly humidities and temperatures for the same month and year were obtained and compared to monthly realignment rates.

Results:

A total of 614,340 eyes had LASIK surgery of which 5,244 (0.85%) developed striae requiring realignment. This incidence did not significantly vary between the full years of 2008-2011, ranging from 0.803% to 0.877% (p>.05). The mean monthly incidence, however, ranged from 0.657% (June) to 1.006% (January), with a significant decline in incidence during the summer months (June-August) in comparison to January and February (p<.05). The summer season as a whole revealed a statistically lower incidence of striae relative to all other seasons (p<.05). Comparison of the average reported monthly humidity and temperature to the average monthly incidence of macrostriae from 2008 to 2011 revealed a strong inverse correlation for each (R = -.902, p<.00004; R = -.888, p<.00006).

Conclusions:

This analysis represents the first large scale retrospective review on the incidence of macrostriae at a high volume practice. The strong inverse correlation with monthly/seasonal temperature and humidity may point to air moisture as providing a protective effect in the early post postoperative period.

Financial Interest:

NONE