title: Post-LASIK myopic shift after a trek in the North Pole.
abstract: Bilateral laser in situ keratomileusis was performed in a 37-year-old male ethnic Chinese adventurer. Eight weeks postoperatively, the patient made an unassisted trek to the geographic North Pole. After 2 weeks in this environment, a myopic shift of more than -1.50 diopters occurred in both eyes. The myopic shift resolved over 2 months when the patient returned to a tropical climate. Using Orbscan corneal topography, we propose that the myopic shift was attributed to biomechanical changes in the cornea induced by corneal dehydration in the Arctic environment.
authors.affiliation: The Eye Institute, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Singapore. han_bor_fam@ttsh.com.sg
authors.forename: Han-Bor
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Fam
authors.forename: E-Shawn
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Goh
authors.forename: Hung-Ming
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kooi-Ling
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Lim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001110:Arctic Regions; D003080:Cold Temperature; D003315:Cornea / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D019781:Corneal Topography; D003890:Desiccation; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ; D008297:Male; D009216:Myopia / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D014919:Wind