Patients with narrow hinges found to have less corneal sensitivity, greater dry eye symptoms

Investigators observed that LASIK hinge width is associated with the degree of corneal sensation and dry eye syndrome postoperatively. Patients with narrower hinges had greater symptoms, but they resolved with time.

The range of recovery was anywhere between 1 week and 6 months, the researchers said. Researchers evaluated 54 patients who underwent bilateral LASIK. One eye had a narrow hinge, and a wider hinge was made in the other eye.

Patients with narrower hinges took up to 6 months to recover corneal sensation, while patients with wider hinges took up to 3 months postoperatively. The difference between the groups was most significant between 1 and 3 months. Corneal sensation was most reduced at 1 week after LASIK, and dry eye symptoms were greatest immediately postoperatively, researchers said.

All flaps were 160 µm thick and 9.5 mm in diameter, they said. Masked Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometry was done on the central cornea preoperatively and at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months postoperatively. Patients were evaluated for dry eye with lissamine green, conjunctival staining, Schirmer tests and tear break-up time.

The study was published in the April issue of Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.