title: Persistent subepithelial haze in thin-flap LASIK.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report persistent subepithelial haze in two patients following femtosecond LASIK associated with creation of a thin flap.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subepithelial haze was assessed by slit-lamp photography, high-resolution Scheimpflug imaging, and corneal confocal microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two patients showed distinct subepithelial haze and reduced corrected distance visual acuity at 3 months after LASIK with a think-flap generated by a femtosecond laser. The extent of haze was documented, and the haze was treated topically with steroids up to 12 weeks. The haze was localized approximately 20 to 40 microm below Bowman's layer and dissolved slowly during the 2 months of treatment. At 6 months after surgery, uncorrected visual acuity was 20/20.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subepithelial haze formation represents a new potential complication in the thin-flap LASIK.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Refractive and Opthalmic Surgery, Zurich, Switzerland. farhad.hadezi@iroc.ch
authors.forename: Farhad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hafezi
authors.forename: Theo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Seiler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003318:Corneal Opacity / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014792:Visual Acuity