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Hinge position has little effect on dry eye, sensation after femtosecond LASIK
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Flap hinge position had a negligible influence on dry eye symptoms and corneal sensation after femtosecond laser-assisted LASIK, a study found.
The prospective, nonrandomized study included 86 eyes of 43 patients who underwent femtosecond laser-assisted LASIK for myopia. Mean patient age was 29.8 years.
Right eyes received superior flap hinges, and left eyes received nasal flap hinges.
The 60-KHz IntraLase femtosecond laser (Abbott Medical Optics) was used to create flaps; the Visx S4 IR excimer laser (AMO) was used to perform ablation.
Investigators assessed objective and subjective corneal parameters at 1 week and 1, 3 and 6 months postoperatively.
Corneal sensation decreased significantly at 1 week, from 5.46 mm to 4.63 mm in the nasal hinge group (P < .05) and from 5.59 mm to 4.52 mm in the superior hinge group (P < .01). However, corneal sensation reverted to baseline values within 3 months in both groups.
Tear breakup time decreased insignificantly and basic tear secretion increased significantly in both groups. Corneal fluorescein staining increased significantly in both groups but decreased to baseline at 6 months.
Subjective symptom scores based on the Ocular Surface Disease Index increased from 14 in both groups preoperatively to 25 at week (P < .01), 21 at 1 month (P < .05), and 19 at 3 and 6 months (P < .05).
Between-group differences in all parameters were insignificant at all follow-up points.
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