CHOROIDAL NEOVASCULARIZATION IN MYOPIC EYES AFTER LASER-ASSISTED IN SITU KERATOMILEUSIS

PURPOSE: To analyze the appearance and characteristics of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in patients with high myopia corrected by laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The authors studied CNV in 2955 consecutive eyes (1632 patients) that underwent LASIK for the correction of myopia (from -6 to -27.5 diopters). Follow-up was 34.2+/-11.3 months. RESULTS: Choroidal neovascularization occurred in three eyes (0.10%) and in one eye previous CNV was reactivated (three women, one man). The time interval between refractive surgery and CNV was 13+/-9.5 months (range, 4-26 months). Mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) after LASIK and before CNV development was 20/57 (range, 20/100-20/29). After the appearance of CNV, mean BCVA was 20/606 (range, 20/2000-20/80). Differences between BCVA before and after CNV were statistically significant (P = 0.04, paired Student's t-test). The CNV was treated in two cases by argon laser photocoagulation and in two cases by surgical excision of CNV by vitrectomy. The final mean BCVA was 20/277 (range, 20/800-20/50). Differences between BCVA after LASIK and after CNV treatment were statistically significant (P = 0.04, paired Student's t-test). CONCLUSIONS: Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis as a correcting procedure for myopia was followed by low appearance of CNV. The appearance and treatment of CNV was followed by a significant decrease of BCVA.