title: Myopic LASIK and LASEK in patients with preoperative mean central keratometry ≥47.50 D.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate whether patients who undergo myopic LASIK or laser epithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) with preoperative central keratometry ≥47.50 diopters (D) are at higher risk for developing corneal ectasia postoperatively.
  
  
  METHODS
  Records of 32 patients (54 eyes) who underwent myopic LASIK or LASEK between May 2002 and July 2005 with preoperative mean central keratometry ≥47.50 D were retrospectively reviewed. Patients eligible for the study were offered free follow-up. Last follow-up was at least 3 years after surgery. All procedures were performed with the Technolas Keracor 217z excimer laser (Bausch & Lomb).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-four patients (40 eyes) had LASIK and 8 patients (14 eyes) had LASEK. At last follow-up, no patient had developed ectasia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that patients with preoperative central keratometry ≥47.50 D as the only parameter evaluated should not be excluded from corneal refractive surgery due to increased risk of postoperative ectasia. However, when this preoperative finding is accompanied by other topographic abnormalities, treatment options should be carefully evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Baviera, Instituto Oftalmologico Europeo, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ortega-Usobiaga
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martín-Reyes
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Llovet-Osuna
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beltrán-Sanz
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caro
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baviera-Sabater
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology*; D019781:Corneal Topography; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D049008:Keratectomy, Subepithelial, Laser-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000379:methods*; D054018:Lasers, Excimer / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult