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Femto-LASIK may present valid option for children active in sports
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PRAGUE — Femto-LASIK can be safely and successfully performed in select children when reasonable indications and strong motivational factors are present, according to one surgeon speaking here.
"Main motivation is sport, when poor eyesight and intolerance to contact lenses are a strong limitation," Kristina Vodičková, MD, said at the winter meeting of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons.
Dr. Vodičková presented the results of 25 young patients with mean myopia of -4.4 D or mean hyperopia of +4.8 D. The VisuMax 500 femto-LASIK platform and the Mel 80 excimer laser (both Carl Zeiss Meditec) were used. Flap diameter was 8 mm to 8.5 mm, and flap thickness was 110 µm to 120 µm. At least 300 µm of residual stromal thickness was left.
All procedures were performed under topical anesthesia, with no sedation. Parents were present during the procedure.
The mean age was 13.8 years, but most of the patients were 8 years old. Dr. Vodičková noted that they were all highly motivated and cooperative children who play sports at a level requiring high performance and daily training. Extensive counseling was done with the parents before surgery.
"We had excellent results, and no complications," Dr. Vodičková said. "The children reported no dry eye feeling and very little discomfort after surgery. To our question, they all answered that LASIK was much better than going to the dentist. All of them were highly satisfied with their vision."
- Disclosure: Dr. Vodičková has no relevant financial disclosures.