Laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy retreatment surgery

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the outcomes of laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK) retreatment surgery after prior LASEK surgery.

Setting: Private practice, Ireland.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Methods: Laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy retreatment surgery was performed in patients who had prior LASEK to correct residual refractive errors. All treatments were wavefront guided using the Visx S4 Star excimer laser. The main outcome measures were predictability, safety, efficacy, and stability. Mitomycin-C (MMC) was not used in the primary or retreatments.

Results: The mean age of the 16 patients (23 eyes) was 32 years (range 21 to 56 years). The mean preoperative spherical equivalent (SE) was -3.61 diopters (D) ± 2.61 (SD) (range -8.25 to +3.63 D) and the mean SE before retreatment, -0.67 ± 0.66 D (range -1.88 to +0.88 D). The mean time between procedures was 7.1 ± 2.8 months (range 3 to 13 months). Six months after retreatment, the mean SE was +0.02 ± 0.16 D (range -0.38 to 0.50 D) and the mean Snellen uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) were 1.22 ± 0.11 and 1.29 ± 0.13, respectively. The UDVA was 6/6 or better in all eyes, and all were within ± 0.50 D of SE. No eye lost lines of CDVA or developed corneal haze greater than grade 1.

Conclusion: Laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy retreatment following prior LASEK, both without the use of MMC, provided good predictability, safety, efficacy, and stability outcomes.