Medical hypothesis, discovery & innovation in optometry

Abstract

 
Background: Flap creation is the most critical step of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). The introduction of the femtosecond laser with its uniform flaps, which enhance the accuracy of LASIK, has decreased the risk of flap-related complications like buttonholes and incomplete flaps. We recommended femtosecond laser-assisted LASIK (FS-LASIK) in the presence of superficial corneal opacities.
Case Presentation: We report a case of a 31-year-old female who reported to the Cornea clinic of the Sohag Center for LASIK and Corneal Surgeries, Sohag, Egypt, complaining of bilateral decreased vision due to refractive error. The uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) were 0.01 and 0.7 with a refractive correction of -3.50Ds/ -3.00Dc x 172° in the right eye and 0.01 and 0.6 with a refractive correction of -1.75 Ds/-6.00Dc x164° in the left eye, respectively. Slit-lamp examination of the anterior segment showed bilateral superior vascularized corneal scars and a linear superior conjunctival scar suggestive of old trachoma. Corneal tomographic imaging with a Scheimpflug based tomography device (Oculus Inc., Wetzlar, Germany) revealed a symmetrical bow tie with a very steep cornea without other ectatic changes. The patient underwent bilateral FS-LASIK with an excimer laser. No intraoperative complications occurred. She was followed up for two years with serial corneal topographies and stable post-LASIK results and visual outcomes.
Conclusions: FS-LASIK, in the presence of superficial corneal opacities, was safe and effective and induced no complications with special precautions. However, these findings are yet to be confirmed using well-designed clinical studies with larger samples and longer follow-ups.