Flap Striae: Managing and Understanding Post-LASIK Complication

Abstract

Introduction: Flap striae is the most common postoperative complication, with a frequency ranging from 0.033% to 3.5%, according to studies involving over 1000 ocular cases. There is only one case in our hospital in 2023. In this case report, we will present a case of flap striae in a tertiary hospital because our findings are unusual and essential in symptomatic therapy and visual rehabilitation. Case Presentation: A 19-year-old female came with a chief complaint of impaired vision in her left eye for the past two weeks, followed by inability to focus, discomfort of the eye, a sensation of foreign body, and glare that occurred three days after she underwent bilateral myopia laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery. A post-LASIK assessment found that both eyes had visual acuity 10/10, and the left eye's visual acuity dropped to 6/10. Slit lamp examination revealed flap striae were running from the superonasal to the inferolateral quadrant. The thickness disparities were measured using optical coherence tomography (OCT), ranging from 653 to 689 μm. The OCT pictures revealed a gap on the temporal side as well. This patient was diagnosed with flap striae and a flap repositioning procedure was performed. Conclusions: A flap repositioning surgery was performed to increase visual acuity and eliminate striae.