Visual field defect associated with laser in situ keratomileusis.
OBJECTIVE
To report a case of visual field defect associated with laser in situ keratomileusis.


METHODS
Case report. A 28-year-old woman with high myopia (-10D) and a family history of normal tension glaucoma underwent bilateral laser in situ keratomileusis keratorefractive surgery. Preoperatively, both eyes had normal intraocular pressure and visual field.


RESULTS
At the first postoperative visit 1 day after apparently uncomplicated laser in situ keratomileusis, the patient reported a scotoma in the right eye. At 3-month follow-up, visual fields revealed the patient had developed a near-superior altitudinal visual field defect in the right eye. The defect did not progress over 1 year of follow-up examinations.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased intraocular pressure associated with the microkeratome vacuum ring used during laser in situ keratomileusis may have precipitated optic nerve head ischemia and visual field defect.
Bushley
D M
DM
Department of Ophthalmology, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Washington 98431, USA. mbushley@aol.com
Parmley
V C
VC
Paglen
P
P
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009216:Myopia / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D012607:Scotoma / Q000209:etiology*; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014794:Visual Fields