Reasons for not performing LASIK in refractive surgery candidates in Yemen.
OBJECTIVE
To determine and analyze the reasons that laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) was not performed in patients who requested refractive surgical correction of their refractive errors.


METHODS
A retrospective observational study was performed in Yemen Magrabi Hospital between June 2005 and October 2006; the case records of 1596 new consecutive patients who presented for refractive surgery at our refractive surgery unit were reviewed. Data on the ocular status, refractive problems, and investigations performed were analyzed. The reasons for not performing LASIK in the cases that were rejected were recorded and analyzed.


RESULTS
A total of 1191 patients (74.6%) were advised to have LASIK of the 1596 patients examined. LASIK was not advised in 405 patients (25.4%). The most common reasons for rejecting LASIK were suboptimal central corneal thickness (25.9%), high myopia >-11.00 D (17.0%), keratoconus (15.5%), cataract (11.4%), and suspicious corneal topography (forme fruste keratoconus) (9.4%).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients who request refractive surgery have a variety of problems and attention must be given to these patients. Suboptimal corneal thickness, high amount of refractive error, and keratoconus were found to be the leading causes of not performing LASIK in Yemeni patients.
Bamashmus
Mahfouth
M
Eye Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana'a University, Magrabi Eye Hospital, Sana'a, Republic of Yemen. bamashmus@hotmail.com
Saleh
Mahmoud Fathi
MF
Abdulrahman
Mohamed
M
Al-Kershy
Najeeb
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology; D019781:Corneal Topography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007640:Keratoconus / Q000175:diagnosis; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery*; D047728:Myopia, Degenerative / Q000175:diagnosis; D018579:Patient Selection; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D016079:Refusal to Treat / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015006:Yemen; D055815:Young Adult