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LASEK preferable in some cases

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AMSTERDAM — LASEK is preferable to LASIK for lower levels of myopia, said Patrick Condon, MD, speaking here at the XIX Congress of the ESCRS.

In a study of 158 patients receiving LASEK and 150 receiving LASIK, visual outcomes were equal at 1 month and 3 months postop, said Dr. Condon. At 1 week, LASIK patients had better vision than the LASEK group, although more LASEK patients were within 1 D of attempted correction at 3 months, he added.

"The LASEK procedure is relatively safer," he stated. "After 8 years, I still have reservations about the LASIK procedure, mainly due to the microkeratome problem. We therefore recommend the LASEK procedure in myopia up to 6 D."

In a question-and-answer session following the presentation, an ophthalmologist reported that the 20% alcohol denaturing solution should be mixed using distilled water, not balanced salt solution. This may eliminate some of the haze problems that can be encountered in the LASEK procedure, he suggested.

The LASEK procedure should also be considered when there are concerns about inadequate corneal thickness, added another surgeon. LASEK uses a flap composed only of the corneal epithelial layer, not the stroma.