Long-term evaluation of eyes with central corneal thickness <400 μm following laser in situ keratomileusis.
OBJECTIVE
To study long-term refractive and visual outcomes of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) in eyes with a postoperative thin central cornea.


METHODS
In this retrospective observational case series, we studied 282 myopic eyes with a normal preoperative topographic pattern and postoperative thin corneas (<400 μm) that had at least 3 years of follow-up after LASIK in three private clinics. The main outcome measures were safety, efficacy, predictability, percent tissue altered, and complications.


RESULTS
The mean postoperative central corneal thickness was 392.05 μm (range: 363.00-399.00 μm). After a mean follow-up of 6.89±2.35 years (standard deviation), the safety index was 1.17, the efficacy index was 0.94, and predictability (±1.00 diopter [D]) was 73.49. The mean residual stromal bed thickness was 317.34±13.75 μm (range: 275-356 μm), the mean flap thickness was 74.76±13.57 μm (range: 55-124 μm), and the mean percent tissue altered was 37.12%±3.62% (range: 27.25%-49.26%). No major complications were recorded.


CONCLUSIONS
LASIK with a resultant central cornea thickness <400 μm seems to be effective, safe, and predictable provided that preoperative topography is normal and the residual stromal bed thickness is >275 μm.
Department of Refractive Surgery, Clinica Baviera, Zaragoza, Spain.
Mohammad Reza
MR
Djodeyre
Department of Refractive Surgery, Clinica Baviera, Valencia, Spain.
Jaime
J
Beltran
Department of Research and Development, Clinica Baviera, Bilbao, Spain.
Julio
J
Ortega-Usobiaga
Department of Refractive Surgery, Clinica Baviera, Madrid, Spain.
Felix
F
Gonzalez-Lopez
Department of Refractive Surgery, Clinica Baviera, Zaragoza, Spain.
Ana Isabel
AI
Ruiz-Rizaldos
Department of Refractive Surgery, Clinica Baviera, Valencia, Spain.
Julio
J
Baviera
LASIK; cornea; ectasia; myopia; pachymetry; thin; topography