Long-term stability of the posterior cornea after laser in situ keratomileusis
Accepted 15 April 2007.
Purpose
To study long-term changes in posterior corneal elevation after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) using Scheimpflug topography (Pentacam, Oculus, Inc.) in eyes 1 year after LASIK.
Setting
Department of Ophthalmology, Albany Medical Center, and a private practice, Albany, New York, USA.
Methods
One hundred two myopic eyes of 52 consecutive patients presenting for their 1-year follow-up were prospectively evaluated using the Pentacam to determine elevation changes to the posterior corneal surface between preoperative and 1-year postoperative measurements. Changes in posterior elevation were performed by comparing the best-fit sphere preoperatively and postoperatively with a fixed reference sphere determined by the central 9.0 mm preoperative cornea. Statistical and graphical analyses were performed.
Results
One hundred two post-LASIK eyes (mean correction −4.33 diopters; mean ablation depth 68.70 μm; mean estimated residual bed thickness 327 μm) had a mean posterior displacement of −0.47 μm ± 3.48 (SD) (range −10.0 to +7 μm). The mean follow-up period was 13.6 months (range 8.8 to 19.3 months).
Conclusions
In this population, no patient had significant forward protrusion of the posterior corneal surface a mean of 14 months after LASIK. The posterior cornea in post-LASIK myopic eyes was very stable. Contrary to results in previous studies, progressive changes to the posterior corneal surface did not routinely occur after LASIK performed within established parameters.
From the Albany Medical College (Ciolino, Khachikian, Belin) and a private practice (Belin, Cortese), Albany, New York, USA
Corresponding author: Joseph B. Ciolino, MD, 361 State Street, Apartment 3 Front, Albany, New York 12210, USA.
No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
Presented at the ASCRS Symposium on Cataract, IOL and Refractive Surgery, San Diego, California, USA, April–May 2007.
ABSTRACT