Lasik

Although existing dry eye syndrome can worsen following LASIK surgery, proper preoperative and postoperative management can allow patients with even severe dry eye to benefit from the surgery. Frequent instillation of artificial tears is the standard treatment for most cases of dry eye syndrome. However, in managing the more severe cases, a number of options exist.

When refractive surgeons think about the prophylaxis and treatment of infections, the major issues that come to mind are effectiveness, safety and concerns about growing drug resistance. Considering these factors and the growing number of opportunistic infections after LASIK, the new generation of fluoroquinolones are the best drugs for today’s “bugs.”

AMSTERDAM — Since it first appeared on the scene, laser epithelial keratomileusis has continued to attract interest and new adherents in Europe and the United States.

LASIK is the principal form of refractive surgery throughout Europe, and its popularity increases every day among both patients and surgeons. But other surgical options such as phakic IOLs and LASEK, and new diagnostic techniques like wavefront analysis, promise to broaden refractive surgery into a spectrum of correction strategies, more versatile and customizable than at present.

MUNCHEN, Germany – A comparative study shows that even at this present, still imperfect, stage, topo-link ablation presents some noteworthy advantages over standard laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) ablation. According to Thomas Neuhann, MD, “it is a valid tissue-sparing option, with high predictability and good refractive results when applied to regular corneas.” However, he pointed out that disappointing outcomes often occur with irregular corneas, mainly due to the imperfect alignment systems presently in use.

ALGARVE, Portugal – Intacs intrastromal corneal ring segments (ICRS; Keravision; Fremont, U.S.A.) can be a safe, permanent solution for regression and decentration following laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), according to Michiel S. Kritzinger, MD, of Johannesburg, South Africa.

WAILEA, U.S.A. — Hyperopic laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for patients with hyperopia up to +6 D of sphere and up to 3 D of cylinder indicates promising results out to 9 months when using the disc technology of the Summit (Waltham, U.S.A.) Apex Plus Excimer Laser Workstation. Combined data from two centers in a multicenter study show that stability is achieved in all eyes during the 3- to 6-month interval, as well as excellent postoperative uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and a low incidence of safety issues.

Both the Refractive Surgery Interest Group (RSIG) and the International Society of Refractive Surgery (ISRS) meetings, held prior to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) meeting in New Orleans, were primarily devoted to laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), and to a lesser degree photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). The emphasis at both meetings was on longer-term clinical results for myopic correction and, because of the shorter time in clinical trials, short-term results on hyperopia. The RSIG meeting had about 1,400 attendees — up significantly from the previous 2 years — while the ISRS had a little over 1,000 attendees — about equal with previous years (with many crossovers from the other meeting).