Posters

Case report: Managing corneal interface epithelial ingrowth after ReLex SMILE

Poster Details

First Author: O.Wolter NETHERLANDS

Co Author(s):    M. Versteegh   E. Timmerman   H. Ockels   I. Nijdam           

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To report a case of corneal interface epithelial ingrowth (C.I.E.I.) in the central pupillary area after a minimal complicated case of ReLex SMILE with corneal abrasion at the side cut incision. A combined treatment with surgical removal and focal Neodynium Yttrium Aluminium Garnet (Nd-YAG) laser was performed.

Setting:

Oogheelkundig Medisch Centrum Hanze Kliniek Groningen, The Netherlands Otto Wolter MD o.j.wolter@gmail.com

Methods:

Case report and literature review.

Results:

A 30 years old man developed a clinically significant corneal interface epithelial ingrowth in the pupillary area after a ReLEx Smile of his right eye related to minimal corneal abrasion at the side cut incision. After 6 months of clinical observation and treatment with topical steroids, a surgical removal of the corneal interface epithelial ingrowth was performed followed by interface scrapping and rinsing with BSS.  A bandage contact lens was placed. Postoperatively a focal Nd-YAG laser at low energy was performed at 3 remnants spots of epithelial ingrowth.  There was no regression of the Epithelial Ingrowth and the BCVA recovered.

Conclusions:

Epithelial Ingrowth is a potential serious complication after corneal lamellar laser surgery. The Incidence of C.I.E.I. after ReLEx Smile is not well known and its incidence after Lasik varies in the available publications. This case of C.I.E.I. was successfully treated with our combined approach of surgical removal, interface scraping, wash and low energy Nd-YAG laser treatment. There was no recurrence of the C.I.E.I. and there was no loss of BCVA.

Financial Disclosure:

None