LASIK with an inferior hinge.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the refractive results and corneal pachymetric changes after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) with an inferior hinge.


METHODS
Forty-six eyes of 23 patients who underwent LASIK with an inferior hinge were involved in this prospective study. All patients had a complete ophthalmic examination including uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), manifest refraction, computerized corneal topography (Orbscan II Corneal Topography System; Orbscan Inc, Salt Lake City, Utah), air-puff tonometry, slit-lamp examination of the anterior segment, and fundus examination.


RESULTS
Preoperatively, mean sphere was -4.09+/-0.27 diopters (D) (range: -8.00 to -0.25 D), mean cylinder was -0.60+/-0.11 D (range: -3.25 to 0.00 D), and mean spherical equivalent refraction was -4.39+/-0.27 D (range: -8.63 to -1.50 D). At 1 month postoperatively, mean sphere was -0.04+/-0.01 D (range: -0.25 to 0.00 D), mean cylinder was -0.01+/-0.01 D (range: -0.50 to 0.00 D), and mean spherical equivalent refraction was -0.04+/-0.02 D (range: -0.00 to -0.50 D). At 1 month postoperatively, no eyes lost any lines of BSCVA.


CONCLUSIONS
Laser in situ keratomileusis with an inferior hinge is an alternative technique, which was safe and effective in our series. Further studies with long-term follow-up comparing the incidence of corneal ectasia in eyes with a superior hinge to that in eyes with an inferior hinge are recommended.
Cosar
C Banu
CB
Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital, Eye Clinic, Istanbul, Turkey. cbcosar@yahoo.com
Sener
A Bozkurt
AB
D000328:Adult; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D019781:Corneal Topography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009216:Myopia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D012449:Safety; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity