Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in myopic eyes after laser in situ keratomileusis. Frequency, characteristics, and mechanism.
OBJECTIVE
To report the characteristics and frequency of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for the correction of myopia in a large case series.


METHODS
Private practices, Caracas, Venezuela.


METHODS
Five refractive surgeons and 31 739 myopic eyes that had surgical correction of a mean myopia of -6.01 diopters (D) (range -0.75 to -29.00 D) participated in this study. Laser in situ keratomileusis was performed in all eyes. Patients were followed for a mean of 36 months (range 6 to 48 months). The clinical charts of patients who developed RRD after LASIK were reviewed.


RESULTS
Twenty eyes (17 patients) developed RRD after LASIK. Rhegmatogenous retinal detachments occurred a mean of 13.9 months (range 1 to 36 months) after LASIK. The mean pre-LASIK myopia in eyes that developed an RRD was -7.02 D (range -1.50 to -16.00 D). Most RRDs and retinal breaks occurred in the temporal quadrants (71.4%). Rhegmatogenous retinal detachments were managed with vitrectomy, cryoretinopexy, scleral buckling, argon laser retinopexy, or pneumatic retinopexy techniques. The frequency of RRD after LASIK was 0.06%.


CONCLUSIONS
Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment after LASIK for the correction of myopia is infrequent. If managed promptly, RRD will result in good vision. Before LASIK is performed, patients should have a thorough dilated indirect fundoscopy with scleral depression and treatment of any retinal lesion predisposing to the development of an RRD.
Arevalo
J F
JF
Retina and Vitreous Service, Clinica Oftalmologica Centro Caracas, Caracas, Venezuela. areval1@telcel.net.ve
Ramirez
E
E
Suarez
E
E
Cortez
R
R
Antzoulatos
G
G
Morales-Stopello
J
J
Ramirez
G
G
Torres
F
F
Gonzalez-Vivas
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D003452:Cryosurgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000009:adverse effects*; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery*; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D012591:Scleral Buckling; D014687:Venezuela / Q000453:epidemiology; D014792:Visual Acuity; D014821:Vitrectomy