Macular hemorrhage after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) with femtosecond laser flap creation.
OBJECTIVE
To report the first case of macular hemorrhage following laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) with femtosecond laser flap creation.


METHODS
Observational case report.


METHODS
A 36-year-old woman underwent uncomplicated, bilateral, simultaneous LASIK procedures for correction of moderate myopia (-5.00 diopters OD and -6.00 diopters OS). LASIK flap creation was performed using the IntraLase femtosecond laser.


RESULTS
On postoperative day 1, the patient's uncorrected and best-corrected visual acuities were 20/20 OD and 20/40 OS. A dilated fundoscopic examination revealed a one-third disk diameter macular hemorrhage OS. An intravenous fluorescein angoiogram ruled out the presence of predisposing macular pathology. Two months after LASIK, the macular hemorrhage had cleared, and 6 months later, the BCVA improved to 20/25 OS.


CONCLUSIONS
Macular hemorrhage may occur after LASIK, even in the absence of previously identified risk factors, such as high myopia, pre-existing choroidal neovasculaization, lacquer cracks, and sudden changes in intraocular pressure associated with microkeratome-assisted flap creation.
Cornea Service, Jules Stein Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
Alexandre H
AH
Principe
Danny Y
DY
Lin
Kent W
KW
Small
Anthony J
AJ
Aldave
D000328:Adult; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery*; D012166:Retinal Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014792:Visual Acuity