[Is it still Necessary to Discontinue Using Daily Wear Soft Contact Lenses for a Period before LASIK?].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to verify whether soft contact lenses (SCL) can have a clinically significant impact on refraction before LASIK.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of 113 eyes for which the refraction was measured initially and after discontinuing soft contact lenses for at least 7 days. Both spherical and cylindrical measurements were performed. In addition, the difference between postoperative refraction and the target refraction for these eyes was calculated for both spherical and cylindrical refraction.


RESULTS
In 8 % (18 %) of the eyes, the spherical or cylindrical refraction changed by 0.5 dioptre or more after a week of not wearing soft contact lenses. Total spherical refraction changed by an average of 0.15 dioptre (p = 0.58) and cylindrical refraction by 0.18 dioptre (p = 0.006). After LASIK, the difference between postoperative and target refraction was significantly different for both spherical refraction (0.3 dioptre) and for cylindrical refraction (0.21 dioptre).


CONCLUSIONS
The differences in the measurements during this study suggest that a modern soft contact lenses should still be discontinued before LASIK. The optimal duration of the discontinuation remains to be determined.
Augenklinik, Universität Basel, Schweiz (Chairman ad interim: Prof. Selim Orgül).
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Fragkopoulou
Augen Zentrum Nordwest, Ahaus (Chairman: Dr. med. Stefanie Schmickler).
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Schmickler
Augen Zentrum Nordwest, Ahaus (Chairman: Dr. med. Stefanie Schmickler).
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Haselhoff
Augenklinik, Universität Basel, Schweiz (Chairman ad interim: Prof. Selim Orgül).
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Goldblum
D000328:Adult; D003263:Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity; D055815:Young Adult