J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  1999 Mar;40(3):845-852.

2 cases of Corneal Ectasia Detected after LASIK

• Kim TG
• Joo CK

Abstract

Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis(LASIK) has been regarded as an effective treatment for the correction of high myopia. However, excimer laser refractive procedure, itself modifies the refracting power of the cornea by altering the anterior corneal curvature using photoablation. Therefore, The cornea treated by refractive surgery has a potentiality to be in pathologic condition. To impove effectiveness of LASIK, it is required to examine corneal state before operation using slit-lamp biomicroscopy, keratometry, photokeratoscopy, and topography. Also, a careful and conservative approach that ideally preserves 250 of posterior stromal bed after Lasik should be used until further research or experience indicates that corneal intergrity is pressved with less posterior tissue. In this study, we report two cases of corneal ectasia which cannot be anticipated before LASIK and appeared as a typical cornneal ectasia after LASIK. We reviewed useful methods to detec subclinial pathologic conditions of cormea prior to LASIK with literature and also recommed proper operative procedure to prevent cormeal ectasi after LASIK.

MeSH Terms

Cornea
Dilatation, Pathologic*
Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ*
Lasers, Excimer
Myopia
Refractive Surgical Procedures
Surgical Procedures, Operative