Eleven-year follow-up of laser in situ keratomileusis

Kymionis, George D.; Tsiklis, Nikolaos S.; Astyrakakis, Nikolaos; Pallikaris, Aristofanis I.; Panagopoulou, Sophia I.; Pallikaris, Ioannis G.

doi:10.1016/j.jcrs.2006.11.002

« Previous Next »Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery
Volume 33, Issue 2 , Pages 191-196, February 2007

Eleven-year follow-up of laser in situ keratomileusis

From the Department of Ophthalmology (Kymionis, I.G. Pallikaris), and Institute of Vision and Optics (Kymionis, Tsiklis, Astyrakakis, A.I. Pallikaris, Panagopoulou, I.G. Pallikaris), University of Crete, Crete, Greece

Accepted 2 November 2006.

Purpose

To report the long-term (11-year) outcomes (stability and complications) of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) in patients with high myopia.

Setting

University refractive surgery center.

Methods

Seven patients (4 with bilateral treatment and 3 with unilateral treatment) who had myopic LASIK and completed 11 years of follow-up were included in the study.

Results

The mean age of the 2 men and 5 women was 41.7 years ± 6.5 (SD) (range 34 to 50 years). The mean follow-up was 140.18 ± 6.70 months (range 132 to 150 months). At 11 years, the spherical equivalent error was statistically significantly reduced, from a mean of −12.96 ± 3.17 diopters (D) (range −19.00 to −10.00 D) before LASIK to a mean of −1.14 ± 1.67 D (range −4.25 to 1.00 D) after (P<.001). Predictability of postoperative refraction 6 months and 11 years after LASIK showed that 6 eyes (55%) were within ±1.00 D of intended correction. No late postoperative complications occurred. Five patients (8 eyes, 73%) were satisfied with the final outcome.

Conclusions

Laser in situ keratomileusis was moderately predictable in the correction of high degrees of myopia. After the sixth postoperative month, refractive and topographic stability were obtained. No long-term sight-threatening complications occurred during the follow-up period.