Severe corneal epithelial sloughing during laser in situ keratomileusis as a presenting sign for silent epithelial basement membrane dystrophy.
OBJECTIVE
To report the occurrence of large intraoperative epithelial sloughing during laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) as a first diagnostic sign for silent epithelial basement membrane dystrophy (EBMD).


METHODS
Refractive Surgery and Cornea Unit, Alicante Institute of Ophthalmology, Alicante, Spain.


METHODS
In this retrospective case series, the medical records of all patients with large corneal epithelial sloughing/defects during LASIK from January 1995 to December 2004 were reviewed. All patients who presented normal corneas before LASIK and EBMD changes after LASIK were included in this study. The surgical procedures and postoperative course were recorded. The follow-up period was 12 months for all patients.


RESULTS
Eleven eyes of 6 patients were included. The mean age was 35 years +/- 6.1 (SD). Mean preoperative uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) was 20/500 (0.04 +/- 0.02); 12 months after surgery, mean UCVA increased to 20/27 (0.74 +/- 0.21). There was a significant decrease in best spectacle-corrected visual acuity 1 month after surgery. One year postoperatively, 10 of 11 eyes (91%) were within +/-1.00 diopter of emmetropia. Postoperatively, clinical manifestations of EBMD were observed in all eyes and complications were common. In the early postoperative period, diffuse lamellar keratitis was observed in 6 of 11 eyes (54.5%) and flap microfolds were noted in 2 of 11 (18.2%). One year after surgery, epithelial ingrowth was present in 8 of 11 eyes (72.7%) and flap melting was noted in 4 of 11 (36.4%).


CONCLUSIONS
Occurrence of large intraoperative epithelium sloughing/defects during LASIK might be a diagnostic sign for subclinical EBMD. These patients are predisposed to multiple postoperative complications. Because of the high risk for epithelial sloughing in the second eye, LASIK should not be performed.
Pérez-Santonja
Juan J
JJ
Refractive Surgery and Cornea Unit, Alicante Institute of Ophthalmology, Miguel Hernández University School of Medicine, Alicante, Spain.
Galal
Ahmed
A
Cardona
Carmen
C
Artola
Alberto
A
Ruíz-Moreno
José M
JM
Alió
Jorge L
JL
D000328:Adult; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000473:pathology*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D009216:Myopia / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014792:Visual Acuity