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LASIK may induce changes in optic nerve head structure
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LISBON, Portugal — LASIK surgery may induce transient changes in the optic nerve head, according to a speaker here.
Jose Miguel Roman Guindo, MD, said changes in the optic nerve head may be caused by mechanical stretching of the vitreous base after increases in IOP during the application of the microkeratome suction ring. He spoke on the topic here at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting.
Dr. Roman Guindo presented data from a prospective, single-masked study of optic nerve head changes in 54 eyes that underwent LASIK for less than 6 D of myopia and less than 2 D of astigmatism. Measurement of the optic nerve head was taken with the Carl Zeiss Meditec OCT 3 preoperatively and at 1 and 3 months postoperatively.
He found a statistically significant increase in the optic disc area at 1 month, rising from 2.18 mm² to 2.24 mm². He also told the audience that there was a statistically significant increase in cup area from 0.40 mm² to 0.44 mm².
Dr. Roman Guindo said these measurements returned to baseline at the 3-month follow-up point.
“LASIK seems to induce a transient change in the optic nerve head structure,” he said.