Clinical course of severe central epithelial defects in laser in situ keratomileusis

PURPOSE: To report the clinical outcome of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) cases complicated by severe central intraoperative epithelial defects (EDs) caused by the microkeratome cut. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. METHODS: In a retrospective study of 1650 LASIK cases at 1 center, the preoperative data, surgical procedures, and postoperative course in 22 eyes of 14 patients who experienced severe central EDs during the LASIK procedure (1.3%) were reviewed. The surgery was performed using a Technolas C-LASIK 217 excimer laser (Bausch & Lomb) and a Hansatome microkeratome (Bausch & Lomb). A follow-up of at least 12 months was available in all but 1 case. The median follow-up was 13.5 months (range 12 to 25 months). In the postoperative period, the following parameters were reviewed: course of refraction, best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), slitlamp findings, and corneal topography. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 42 years (range 27 to 61 years). Eight patients were affected bilaterally. Fifteen eyes (68%) had moderate to severe dry-eye symptoms preoperatively. Almost all eyes lost BSCVA in the postoperative period, and visual acuity improved slowly. By the last follow-up visit, no eye had lost more than 1 line of BSCVA. Diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK) was observed in 20 eyes (91%), irregular astigmatism in 17 (77%), and microfolds in 12 (55%). In unilaterally affected patients, the refractive outcome was better in the nonaffected eye. CONCLUSIONS: A large central ED is a severe intraoperative complication of LASIK that may lead to DLK, irregular astigmatism, flap microfolds, clearly prolonged visual rehabilitation, and temporary loss of BSCVA. The improvement in BSCVA may take several months.