title: Results of phototherapeutic keratectomy in the management of flap striae after LASIK.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) in reducing or resolving visually significant surface irregularities resulting from flap striae after LASIK.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective, noncomparative case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-three eyes of 22 patients with flap striae after LASIK and reduced best-corrected visual acuity or visual symptoms that resolved with diagnostic contact lens fitting treated between January 2001 and April 2002 with at least 1 month of follow-up. The mean follow-up interval was 134 days (range, 30-354 days).
  
  
  METHODS
  Transepithelial PTK.
  
  
  METHODS
  Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), resolution or reduction of preoperative symptoms, corneal haze, and best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean BSCVA and UCVA improved significantly from 20/32 and 20/48 to 20/22 and 20/33 (P<0.0001 and P = 0.027), respectively, after PTK. There was a significant mean hyperopic shift of 0.88 diopters (D; P = 0.002, range, -1.38 to +3.88 D). Fourteen eyes (61%) were clinically clear, 6 eyes (23%) had trace haze, and 3 eyes (16%) had 1+ haze at the last follow-up visit. Mean spherical equivalent refractive error before LASIK was -7.23 D (range, -2.88 to -13.55 D). Twenty-two of 23 eyes had significant qualitative resolution or reduction of preoperative visual symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In cases of visually significant LASIK flap striae, PTK is effective in improving best-corrected visual acuity and reducing visual symptoms. High myopia may be a risk factor for development of visually significant microstriae. Development of anterior stromal haze did not exceed 1+ density and was not correlated to either the number of laser pulses or the length of the follow-up period.
authors.affiliation: Centerr for Eye Research and Education, Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston, 50 Staniford Street, Suite 600, Boston, MA 02114, USA. rfsteinert@eyeboston.com
authors.forename: Roger F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Steinert
authors.forename: Amin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ashrafzadeh
authors.forename: Peter S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Hersh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000009:adverse effects*; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014792:Visual Acuity