Tear secretion following excimer laser in situ keratomileusis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) on tear secretion.


METHODS
A non-consecutive series of 42 eyes of 42 patients had LASIK for the correction of myopia and myopic astigmatism. The fellow eye served as a control. The mean preoperative spherical equivalent refraction was -5.25 +/- 1.00 D (range, -1.75 to -11.00 D). Attempted correction aimed at emmetropia. Schirmer I and II, and tear break-up time (BUT) tests were performed preoperatively and at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. All tests were correlated to the amount of the attempted correction.


RESULTS
Preoperatively, mean values were Schirmer I: 16.2 mm, Schirmer II: 11.6 mm, and BUT: 16.3 sec. One month after LASIK, mean values were Schirmer I: 12.8 mm, Schirmer II: 9.2 mm, and BUT: 13.3 sec. At 3 months, mean values were Schirmer I: 15.76 mm, Schirmer II: 11.3 mm, and BUT: 14.15 sec. At 6 months, mean values were Schirmer I: 15.96 mm, Schirmer II: 11.66 mm, and BUT: 16.3 sec. No correlation to the amount of attempted correction was found. Fellow eye tests were not affected at any interval.


CONCLUSIONS
Tear secretion following LASIK was decreased during 3 months after surgery and was normalized by 6 months.
Siganos
Dimitrios S
DS
Vlemma Eye Institute, Athens, Greece. siganos@vlemma.com
Popescu
Corina N
CN
Siganos
Charalambos S
CS
Pistola
Georgia
G
D000328:Adult; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery*; D003315:Cornea / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013666:Tears / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*