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Screening strategy key to reducing corneal ectasia after LASIK
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Abnormal topography is the most common risk factor for eyes developing corneal ectasia after LASIK, so topography screening is important to help prevent cases following surgery, a surgeon said.
"Using a screening strategy that employs analysis of the multiple risk factors that we can identify should help us to be able to prevent ectasia," Helen K. Wu, MD, said at OSN New York 2009. "Can we predict it? No, not 100% of the time. But further research into corneal biomechanics and ectasia should continue to improve our knowledge base."
Dr. Wu presented data from a retrospective chart review study that she and colleagues conducted on the safety and efficacy of LASIK in 1,510 eyes. Of those, 193 eyes of 137 patients were selected. Those eyes had high-risk criteria including elevated posterior float, thin cornea, high myopia and against-the-rule astigmatism.
A total of 50 eyes met strict forme fruste keratoconus criteria. Follow-up was at least 6 months.
Two eyes of one patient developed ectasia in the study, Dr. Wu said.
She said the study showed that one high-risk factor did not lead to development of ectasia. A combination of risk factors is the most likely way to prevent the condition, she said.
OSN New York 2010 will be held November 19-21, 2010 at the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers in New York City. Learn more at OSNNY.com.