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Is ped LASIK safe? Surgeon says yes, in selected cases
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SAN FRANCISCO — Although LASIK is not generally indicated for pediatric use, there are some cases in which it can be beneficial, according to one surgeon.
Jonathan M. Davidorf, MD, of West Hills, Calif., presented several pediatric LASIK case studies here at the annual meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons.
Dr. Davidorf said the goal of LASIK in young patients is to reduce anisometropia, improve amblyopia therapy and improve best corrected visual acuity.
Pediatric LASIK is not without risk, he said. He spoke of one 7-year-old patient who had 7 D of anisometropia with best corrected vision of 20/80 in the amblyopic eye. Dr. Davidorf said the patient’s parents referred to her contralateral eye as her “good” eye.
Among the risks of performing LASIK on this patient were that she could end up with best corrected visual acuity of less than 20/80, she could become contact lens intolerant, or in the worst case she could have a blind, painful, infected eye.
The actual result was that her best corrected visual acuity improved to 20/50 and she was able to wear a –9 D spherical soft contact lens to correct the remaining error in the treated eye. Dr. Davidorf said the patient tolerated the anesthesia well, and the flap healed without incident.
Two years postop, the patient developed a retinal detachment in her untreated “good” eye, and she became 20/400 in that eye.
“The treated eye is now her ‘good’ eye,” Dr. Davidorf said.
He added that LASIK in young patients is experimental surgery and the results must be followed closely.