title: Laser refractive surgery in a patient with a prepapillary arterial loop.
abstract: To present a patient with a prepapillary vascular loop, a congenital anomaly that has been associated with vitreous hemorrhage and retinal vascular occlusion, who underwent refractive surgery.
  
  
  
  A 45-year-old man with 2.00 diopters (D) of myopia and a unilateral prepapillary arterial loop presented with an interest in LASIK. After consideration of the theoretical risks of LASIK, the patient underwent photorefractive keratectomy with manual de-epithelialization and a scanning spot excimer laser.
  
  
  
  Postoperatively, uncorrected visual acuity was 20/20, visual field testing was normal, and no complications occurred. Follow-up was 4 years.
  
  
  
  Surface ablation was a safe method in a low myopic patient with a prepapillary vascular loop. This case emphasizes the importance of a thorough vitreoretinal examination in laser refractive candidates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University Clinic, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain. mjmaldonad@unav.es
authors.forename: Miguel J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Maldonado
authors.forename: Iñigo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Corcóstegui
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García-Layana
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salinas-Alaman
authors.forename: Allan R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Rutzen
mesh_terms: D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D005124:Eye Abnormalities / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery*; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000098:blood supply*; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy; D012161:Retinal Artery / Q000002:abnormalities*; D014792:Visual Acuity