title: Straylight measurements in laser in situ keratomileusis and laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy for myopia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare straylight values before and 3 months after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK) and to analyze the causes of any change.
  
  
  METHODS
  Private refractive surgery clinic, Driebergen, The Netherlands.
  
  
  METHODS
  Straylight was measured before and after LASIK or LASEK with a C-Quant straylight meter; values were recorded as the straylight parameter log(s). Main outcome measures were the difference between postoperative and preoperative straylight values and factors causing a difference between the values.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study evaluated 102 eyes having LASIK and 137 eyes having LASEK. On average, there was significant improvement in straylight values postoperatively in both groups. The mean decrease was -0.016 log(s) in the LASIK group and -0.026 log(s) in the LASEK group. Nonparametric testing (sign test) showed that the improvement in straylight was statistically significant in more than 50% of eyes in both groups. Straylight improved in 62 eyes in the LASIK group (P<.001) and 78 eyes in the LASEK group (P<.02) and deteriorated in 35 eyes and 58 eyes, respectively. There was an increase in straylight in 17 eyes (7.1%). Clinical correlations were found in some eyes that had increased postoperative straylight values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  On average, straylight values 3 months after LASIK and LASEK were slightly decreased from baseline values.
authors.affiliation: private refractive surgery clinic, Driebergen, The Netherlands. r.lapid@amc.uva.nl
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lapid-Gortzak
authors.forename: Jan Willem
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: van der Linden
authors.forename: Ivanka
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: van der Meulen
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nieuwendaal
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: van den Berg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D019466:Glare; D006801:Humans; D049008:Keratectomy, Subepithelial, Laser-Assisted; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ; D054018:Lasers, Excimer / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D057234:Preoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012029:Refraction, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult