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Femtosecond LASIK associated with postoperative rainbow glare
J Cataract Refract Surg. 2009;35(6):1082-1086.
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High raster energy and time between service calls were associated with rainbow glare after LASIK with femtosecond laser flap creation, a study showed.
“Careful reporting of these symptoms should be the focus of future study because it will help us better understand the relative differences between laser platforms and refinements in this expanding femtosecond LASIK market environment,” the study authors said.
The retrospective study included 256 patients who underwent LASIK with the IntraLase 60 kHz femtosecond laser (Abbott Medical Optics). Flap thickness ranged from 90 µm to 110 µm. Raster energy ranged from 0.8 µJ (75% of eyes) and 1 to 1.1 µJ (25% of eyes).
Patients were interviewed by telephone or in person during postoperative examinations.
Postoperative rainbow glare was reported in 28 eyes of 15 patients (5.8%). The incidence of rainbow glare was 4.1% in cases performed with raster energy of 0.8 µJ and 11.6% in cases performed with energy of 1 to 1.1 µJ. The incidence of rainbow glare peaked immediately after laser installation and about 2 months before the first maintenance call. No cases of rainbow glare were reported after the service call, the authors said.
“Because cases of rainbow glare are conspicuously absent in the time periods just after the service calls, it is important to schedule regular maintenance visits to service the focusing optics and ensure beam alignment,” they said.