title: Iatrogenic keratectasia after laser in situ keratomileusis for less than -4.0 to -7.0 diopters of myopia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study 13 eyes with less than -4.0 to -7.0 diopters of myopia that developed central or inferior keratectasia after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).
  
  
  METHODS
  The progress of the ectasia was determined by a series of pre- and post-LASIK topographies and the case histories.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Progressive ectasia developed from 1 week to 27 months after LASIK. This necessitated the wearing of hard contact lenses or penetrating keratoplasty. One eye improved for some months after photorefractive keratectomy retreatment. Two eyes in 1 patient and 1 eye in a second patient had latent keratoconus before surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laser in situ keratomileusis can cause permanent weakening and ectasia of the cornea even in eyes with low myopia.
authors.affiliation: Johannesburg Excimer Eye Laser Centr, Pretoria, South Africa. percy@icon.co.za
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Amoils
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Deist
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gous
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Amoils
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003261:Contact Lenses; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D019781:Corneal Topography; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery*; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D012086:Reoperation; D014792:Visual Acuity