Five year follow up of laser in situ keratomileusis for all levels of myopia

Abstract

Aims: To assess the long term refractive and visual outcome of patients who have laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery.Methods: This was a retrospective study of visual and refractive outcome of patients who had LASIK surgery performed in 1998 and 1999. All levels of myopia were included in the study. 49 patients attended for follow up. The main outcome measures were safety, predictability, efficacy, and stability. Postoperative complications and aberrations were also recorded. The mean preoperative spherical equivalent was 24.85. Results: At 2 months postoperatively 67% of eyes were within plus or minus 0.5D of attempted correction with 81% within plus or minus 1.0D. At 5 years postoperatively 60% of eyes were within plus or minus 0.5D of attempted correction with 83% within plus or minus 1.0D. 88% of eyes had a vision of 6/12 or better at 2 months compared to 89% of eyes at 5 years. Best spectacle corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) was unchanged or improved in 51%. No eye lost more than one line of BSCVA. Overall, there was regression towards myopia with a mean change in refraction of 20.5D over the 5 years. As expected, severely myopic patients regressed more with a mean change of 21.06D. However, there was a high level of patient satisfaction with the surgery. Conclusion: LASIK surgery offers predictable results in terms of refractive and visual outcome with mild regression in refraction over time.

Outcomes of Epi-LASIK for the Correction of High Myopia and Myopic Astigmatism after More than 1 Year

“…It exceeded ±1.0 and ±2.0 D of attempted refraction in 49.25 and 19.40% of eyes. Our results are similar to those of previous studies of LASIK for high myopia which found that between 30 and 60% of eyes were within ±1.0 D after surgery [28,29,30,31,32,33,34]. Dai et al reported that SE refraction exceeded ±1.0 D of attempted refraction in 23.53% [12] and 15.38% [24] eyes with myopia ≥–6.0 D, and exceeded ±2.0 D of attempted refraction in 13.79% [12] eyes with myopia ≥–10.0 D. In the study of LASEK for high myopia by Kim et al [27], it was within ±1.00 D of attempted refraction in 71.2% of eyes.…”

“…Sekundo et al [28] reported an increase in patients’ satisfaction score despite the high incidence of cut failures and night vision problems and the low predictability of attempted corrections. Similarly, O’Doherty et al [29] reported high levels of patient satisfaction with myopia. Traditional options for correcting refractive error, glasses and contact lenses, are less stellar as refractive error increases.…”

Four-year to seven-year outcomes of advanced surface ablation with excimer laser for high myopia

“…Our findings 5 years after cPRK were equal to those of Kitazawa et al 2 years after cPRK for high myopia [10]. Compared to 5 year results after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for high myopia, the predictability of cPRK seemed equal to or less than those results [29,30]. Our findings 6 years after LASEK showed lower refractive predictability than those of Yuksel et al 4 years after LASEK for moderate myopia [20].…”

“…However, we evaluated a greater number of eyes and eyes with higher degrees of myopia. Compared to LASIK, the predictability of LASEK seemed inferior [29,30].…”

Eleven-year follow-up of laser in situ keratomileusis

“…[6][7][8][9][10] After LASIK, the cornea is permanently structurally altered, not only by the laser central stromal ablation (depending on the attempted correction), but also by the creation of the flap itself. The possibility of chronic stromal remodeling, unstable corneal biomechanics, and late regression remains.…”