Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate the effect of femtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK) on retinal fovea thickness, volume, and retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness.Methods: Thirty-seven eyes (37 patients) undergoing FS-LASIK were included in this prospective study. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed 1 day before, 1 h and 1 day after FS-LASIK surgery.Result: Eighteen male and nineteen females were enrolled. Mean patient age was 22.94 ± 4.22 years. One hour postoperatively, macula fovea thicknesses, macula fovea volume, macula parafovea thickness, macula parafovea volume, macula perifovea thickness, macula perifove volume, temporal RNFL thickness, and superior RNFL thickness measures showed significant decrease (t = 6.171, 6.032, and 9.837, 9.700, 2.532, 4.393, 4.926, 2.265; p = 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.016, 0.000, 0.000, and 0.011). Day 1 post-operation, macula fovea thicknesses, macula fovea volume, macula parafovea thickness, macula parafovea volume, and inferior RNFL thickness measures showed significant change compared to preoperative measures (t = 3.620, 3.220, 2.901, 2.910, 3.632; p = 0.001, 0.003, 0.006, 0.006, and 0.001).Conclusion: Our data suggest there are alterations in retinal foveal and RNFL measurements by OCT 1 h and 1 day after FS-LASIK surgery.
Highlights
Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis is a popular corneal refractive technique utilised to enhance visual acuity
To evaluate the effect of femtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK) on retinal fovea thickness, volume, and retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness
Both traditional microkeratome and modern femtosecond laser laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK) involve the dissection of a superficial lamellar flap by suction to reveal the corneal stroma for remodelling
Summary
Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis is a popular corneal refractive technique utilised to enhance visual acuity. Both traditional microkeratome and modern femtosecond laser laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK) involve the dissection of a superficial lamellar flap by suction to reveal the corneal stroma for remodelling. FS-LASIK creates a predictable homogeneously thick stromal flap, which is elevated by a suction ring. It leads to better refractive results in comparison to standard microkeratomes most likely due to more predictable and planar corneal flaps [1]. It is evident from the literature that LASIK with mechanical microkeratome is not detrimental to retinal neve fibre layers of healthy individuals [4, 5]. Some studies have demonstrated changes within the retina, following FS-LASIKS [6], whilst other have not [7], and there is uncertainty in the clinical significance of such change [8]
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