title: LASIK outcomes in patients with underlying systemic contraindications: a preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the anatomic and functional outcomes of photorefractive surgery in patients with underlying systemic diseases that are traditionally listed as relative or absolute contraindications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational retrospective case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The case groups were composed of 275 eyes of 141 consecutive patients who underwent a LASIK procedure with any of the following underlying conditions: autoimmune connective-tissue disorders (n = 62), psoriasis (n = 91), intestinal inflammatory diseases (n = 67), diabetes mellitus (n = 44), and history of keloid formation (n = 18). Twenty-nine patients (56 eyes) were receiving systemic immunosuppressive therapy. The control group comprised 358 eyes of 181 patients without the above-mentioned conditions who underwent LASIK.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study had 2 parts, relating to the anatomic and functional (visual and refractive) outcomes. For anatomic outcome, we compared the entire sample of both groups. For functional outcome, only myopic eyes of each group were compared. Independent comparisons were performed between each disease group and the control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anatomic outcomes included perioperative and postoperative epithelial, flap, and interface complications. Functional outcomes were evaluated using visual and refractive indicators, percentage of eyes undergoing enhancement, and number of postoperative visits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mild anatomic complications were observed in the case and control groups with similar percentages, and there were no statistical differences between groups. Regarding functional outcome, the only significant finding was a worse refractive outcome in the collagen vascular diseases group compared with controls. There were no other statistical differences detected in the other systemic disease groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our experience, LASIK can be performed effectively and safely in selected patients with stable and controlled systemic diseases with favorable postoperative anatomic and visual outcomes. The absolute exclusion of certain systemic contraindications should be reconsidered.
authors.affiliation: Clínica Baviera, Instituto Oftalmológico Europeo, Madrid, Spain. rosario@fcobo.e.telefonica.net
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cobo-Soriano
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beltrán
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baviera
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D000075202:Contraindications; D003315:Cornea / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome