We report the case of a patient diagnosed with Avellino corneal dystrophy (ACD) who developed diffuse interstitial keratitis following excimer laser insitu keratomileusis (LASIK). ACD is an autosomal dominant corneal dystrophy characterized by multiple asymmetric stromal opacities that impair vision. Accepted treatments for this condition include corneal transplantation and phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK). Our patient underwent LASIK at another institution to correct myopia. LASIK and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) are usually contraindicated in ACD for the high risk of disease recurrence and postoperative complications. The patient came to our attention lamenting blurry vision, decreased visual acuity, and photophobia. Ophthalmologic examination revealed bilateral interstitial kerat...

Conclusion:  One year postoperatively, there was no difference in CS between both treatment groups using the Pelli‐Robson and CSV‐1000E tests. CS was reduced postoperatively in the LASIK group at the lower spatial frequencies under photopic conditions. No postoperative change was detected in CS following LASIK or LASEK using the Pelli‐Robson test. (Source: Acta Ophthalmologica)

How Long Do Starbursts and Halos Last After LASIK Surgery? (Source: Disabled World)

Conclusions. Pigmented corneal rings have been reported in normal ageing corneas, in certain pathological conditions, and in association with altered corneal topography following LASIK and orthokeratology. We suspect a poorly fitting CL resulted in localised tear pooling between the CL and cornea, and subsequent iron pigment deposition, similar to that seen with orthokeratology. Cosmetic CLs bought via the Internet can be used in an unsupervised manner, with possible impacts on visual function and potential complications. (Source: International Journal of Biomedical Imaging)

Conclusions  Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment after LASIK for the correction of myopia ≤ –10.00 D is infrequent. The risk of RRD after LASIK is very low if you screen patients, and do prophylactic treatment as performed in this study. RRD, if managed promptly, will result in good vision. We recommend that patients scheduled for refractive surgery undergo a very thorough dilated indirect funduscopy with scleral depression and treatment of any retinal lesion predisposing to the development of a RRD before LASIK surgery should be performed. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Retinal DisordersPages 1-8DOI 10.1007/s00417-011-1907-2Authors J. Fernando Arevalo, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USAAndres F. Lasave, Th...MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

This 48-year-old white female with chronic optic disc edema is reported for the discussion of the management for the laser vision correction. Two procedures were considered, one was PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) and the other was LASIK (laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis). A search strategy was developed to search evidence in the literature to support the decision in the selection of the better procedure for this patient. The evidences also were rigorously appraised for the validity. PRK was selected and performed on the patient with good outcome. (Source: Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology)

Seven years after uneventful laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), a 48-year-old woman presented one week after being hit with an iron cord with blurry vision, pain, and irritation. The injury resulted in traumatic flap dislocation, epithelial ingrowth, and macrostriae. Following epithelial removal, the flap was refloated and repositioned. Nine interrupted sutures were used to secure the flap. Three-weeks after surgery with no sutures remaining, the epithelial ingrowth and macrostriae had resolved with a visual acuity of 20/20. (Source: Clinical and Developmental Immunology)

Conclusions: Visual acuity, refractive outcomes, and anterior corneal HOAs were comparable between eyes after uneventful femtosecond laser single pass or double pass after suction loss affecting the pupillary area. A new femtosecond laser pass performed immediately after incomplete flap due to intraoperative suction loss provided good visual and optical outcomes.Financial Disclosure: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)

Conclusions: Retinal image quality was similarly reduced with PRK and LASIK, with no significant differences between the 2 methods. Some PRK patients had a residual refractive error that might have been related to corneal-wound healing still present 3 months postoperatively.Financial Disclosure: Dr. Arjona is an investor in and Drs. Güell and Pujol are investors in and consultants to Visiometrics S.L., Terrassa, Spain. None of the other authors has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)

Treatment of post-PKP corneal astigmatism has always been a challenge to ophthalmic surgeons. The introduction of refractive procedures, such as laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), femtosecond-assisted arcuate keratotomies, and toric IOL implantation, has offered effective approaches to manage this problem. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Conclusions: Magnetic resonance angiography seems to be the best imaging method for the follow-up. In selected cases, when invasive angiography is necessary, 3D DSA should be considered to improve the diagnostic accuracy. Most patients who present with stable and adequate aneurysm occlusion at 6 months after coiling may not require further follow-up. Key words: intracranial aneurysm, embolization, coils, digital subtracted angiography, magnetic resonance, computed tomography. PMID: 22127936 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Neurologia i Neurochirurgia Polska)

Avedro, Inc. announced recently that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug designation to the Company's VibeX (riboflavin ophthalmic solution) for use with its KXL System (UVA irradiation) for Corneal Cross-linking to treat corneal ectasia following refractive surgery, such as Lasik and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). (Source: Pharmaceutical Online News)

LASIK is a surgical procedure intended to reduce a person's dependency on glasses or contact lenses. The goal of this Web site is to provide objective information to the public about LASIK surgery. (Source: Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA): CDRHNew)

I read with concern the article by Chan and Manche regarding preoperative pupil size and postoperative vision quality after LASIK. Two lengthy paragraphs were dedicated to subject clinical characteristics and a precise description of the surgical procedure. Measurement of pupil diameter was described in a single sentence in which the light level was stated to be “mesopic” (which includes ambient illumination ranging from the most dimly lit restaurant to the windowed office where I currently sit), and duration of dark adaptation and control of accommodation were not mentioned. The Colvard pupillometer was used but we are not told by whom, i.e., an investigator, one technician, or several technicians over time. Pupil size was recorded to the tenth of a millimeter, which is beyond the pre...MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

CONCLUSIONS: Wavefront-guided LASIK and PRK are safe and effective at reducing myopia. At 1 month postoperatively, LASIK demonstrates an advantage over PRK in UCVA, BSCVA, low-contrast acuity, induction of total HOAs, and several subjective symptoms. At postoperative month 3, these differences between PRK and LASIK results had resolved. PMID: 22253488 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Transactions of the American Ophthalmological Society)

Conclusions:  Laser in situ keratomileusis treatment for high myopia can effectively reduce high degrees of myopia. Under correction was observed in both treatment groups but Group B has a slightly better predictability. Significant loss of BSCVA occurs infrequently after LASIK for even considerable grades of myopia (0.6% in each group). (Source: Acta Ophthalmologica)

She thought she was stuck with thick glasses and an endless supply of contacts after being rejected for Lasik eye correction. Then the doctor told her about another option. (Source: CNN.com - Health)

Purpose: To examine differences in efficacy, accuracy, safety, and changes in aberrations between femtosecond and mechanical microkeratome laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for myopia.Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai First People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.Design: Evidence-based manuscript.Methods: Data sources, including PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, were searched to identify potentially relevant prospective randomized controlled trials. Primary outcome measures were efficacy (uncorrected distance visual acuity ≥20/20), accuracy (±0.50 diopter mean spherical equivalent), and safety (loss of ≥2 lines of corrected distance visual acuity). Aberrations and postoperative complications were sec...

We describe a case in which the LASIK surgery following PKP seemed to benefit the patient by preventing complete dehiscence of the graft–host junction.Financial Disclosure: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

She thought she was stuck with thick glasses and an endless supply of contacts after being rejected for Lasik eye correction. Then the doctor told her about another option. (Source: CNN.com - Health)

Iatrogenic keratectasia is becoming an increasingly recognised complication of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).1 Prior to the paper by Salgado et al,2 two case reports have been described in the literature using corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) with riboflavin and ultraviolet A as a treatment option in these patients.3 4 Salgado et al describe a study examining the use of CXL in post-LASIK keratectasia. They included 22 eyes from 15 patients, observing stability of visual acuity (VA) and corneal topography at 12 months. They conclude that CXL may be of benefit to patients by stopping or delaying disease progression and the potential need for subsequent keratoplasty. There are, however, several issues with this study, which make it difficult to interpret the role of CXL in iatr...

We describe a method of lifting and replacing the laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) flap to reduce the incidence of epithelial ingrowth beneath the flap after LASIK enhancement. In the rapid flaporhexis technique, the flap edge is opened by 1 clock hour with a Sinskey hook and the flap is peeled back after the exposed edge is grasped with a forceps. When necessary, further blunt retraction of the flap is performed with a triangular polyvinyl acetate sponge. After ablation and before the flap is replaced, a triangular sponge is used to clear epithelial remnants from the interface. This method consistently produces a smooth epithelial dissection and decreases the possibility that epithelium is retained beneath the flap.Financial Disclosure: Neither author has a financial or proprietary in...

Conclusions. The increased levels of oxidative stress markers and the decreased antioxidant capacity and antioxidant defenses in KC corneas, as well as in the post-LASIK ectatic corneas, indicate that oxidative stress might be involved in the development of this disease and may provide new insights for its prevention and treatment in the future. (Source: Investigative Ophthalmology)MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

We thank Marcus Ang, Jodhbir S. Mehta, Frank J.H.M. van den Biggelaar, Yanny Y.Y. Cheng, and Rudy M.M.A. Nuijts for their generous comments and additional observations. The 9 pages of our manuscript, as well as the 35 pages of the supplemental online appendix (both published in Ophthalmology) were extensively revised and shortened. Specifically, 2 of the deleted sections addressed applications of deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) that Ang and Mehta identify. These applications were deemed to be somewhat peripheral to the objectives of the ophthalmic technology assessment, but are reprinted here. “Therapeutic indications, or the removal of infected corneal tissue when medical therapy alone has failed to stabilize the eye, have also been managed with DALK. This includes treatment ...

Conclusions: The new optical ray-tracing algorithm for individualized LASIK ablation profiles to treat moderate to high myopic astigmatism was efficacious, safe, and predictable. The UDVA in eyes with high myopic astigmatism was better than in those treated with wavefront-guided LASIK.Financial Disclosure: Drs. Schumacher and Mrochen are paid scientific consultants to and Drs. Seiler and Cummings and Mr. Maus are members of the medical advisory board of Wavelight, Erlangen, Germany. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)

Conclusions:  The posterior corneal displacement measured with Orbscan after LASIK was time dependent, with a different trend between estimated residual stromal bed thickness that protruded at an early stage but then returned to original levels 12 months after LASIK in eyes without post‐LASIK anterior topographic or pachymetric changes. (Source: Clinical and Experimental Optometry)

Conclusion: This case report confirms that toric soft contact lenses are a good first choice in fitting patients with high and irregular astigmatism from postoperative LASIK corneal ectasia. It also confirms that excellent vision and comfort with toric soft contact lenses is possible in these patients. (Source: Optometry - Journal of the American Optometric Association)

We describe a technique of femtosecond laser-assisted enhancement after primary LASIK with a mechanical microkeratome-created flap. The vertical side-cut incision by the femtosecond laser creates a wound configuration that decreases mechanical trauma to the epithelium and prevents epithelial cell migration. These factors may decrease the risk for post-LASIK enhancement epithelial ingrowth.Financial Disclosure: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. Additional disclosures are found in the footnotes. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

A 58-year-old contact-lens-intolerant man had myopic laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) 13 years ago followed by collagen crosslinking (CXL) in the right eye and intrastromal corneal ring segment (ICRS) implantation in the left eye 14 months ago because of late secondary ectasia. He came for consultation because of low quality of vision, theoretically because of high anisometropia. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)

This is an interesting case of bilateral ectasia after LASIK in a patient with apparently normal preoperative corneal topographies. The most likely causes for the ectasia are undiagnosed keratoconus and excessive keratectomy depth. It is possible that this patient had very early keratoconus in which the cone was small enough for epithelial thickness changes to compensate fully such that the front-surface topography appeared normal, as previously described. The corneal topography back surface shows a slightly elevated and eccentric apex, which may indicate the presence of a subsurface cone masked by epithelium. The keratometric map shows skew astigmatism in both eyes, which might also indicate keratoconus. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)

Post-LASIK ectasia is a challenging problem that we must solve because the involved patients are very disappointed that a procedure performed to allow spectacle independence has led to a refractive disaster. Of the proposed solutions, ICRS implantation and CXL are probably the most interesting, although their efficacy remains controversial. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)

This patient developed bilateral iatrogenic keratectasia after a LASIK procedure for a correction that lies within the usual limits. However, the pre-LASIK posterior float in Figure 1 seems to be higher than 50 μm. This might indicate an unrecognized keratectasia, probably forme fruste keratoconus, given the age of the patient at the time of the initial surgery. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)

CONCLUSION: This case report confirms that toric soft contact lenses are a good first choice in fitting patients with high and irregular astigmatism from postoperative LASIK corneal ectasia. It also confirms that excellent vision and comfort with toric soft contact lenses is possible in these patients. PMID: 22019833 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Optometry)MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

It's the last year you can put money in a healthcare flexible spending account before new contribution limits go into effect. (Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News)

Conclusion: ICRS implantation using a unique mechanical dissection technique is a safe and effective treatment for post-LASIK ectasia. All parameters showed improvement at 1-year follow-up. (Source: Indian Journal of Ophthalmology)

Conclusions  The presence of fibrotic tissue covering the TDM is associated with failure of goniopuncture. Use of IVCM may be valuable in predicting the efficacy of goniopuncture in patients with elevated IOP after deep sclerectomy with collagen implant. (Source: Archives of Opthalmology)

Conclusions: If 1 of 6 parameters were over a chosen threshold, the probability that a patient would present with keratoconus would be almost 3 in 1000 instead of 9 in 1000 in a LASIK surgery cohort. Despite low sensitivity and specificity, some parameters provided by the corneal analyzer offered high negative likelihood ratios and deserve more study with bigger samples.Financial Disclosure: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)

How can doctors better assess which patients may be at risk for ocular allergies following LASIK? Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

CONCLUSION: This case focuses on the utilization of a wavefront-optimized LASIK treatment profile to eliminate a high magnitude of astigmatic refractive error without inducing higher-order aberrations. Wavefront-guided treatments are not required in most cases but should be considered if the magnitude of preoperative root-mean-square higher-order aberrations is greater than 0.35 μm. Wavefront-optimized aspheric corneal ablations attempt to avoid reducing the prolate eccentricity of the average cornea, and optimized treatments have shown improved visual outcomes compared with conventional LASIK treatments. A thorough knowledge of refractive surgery is important for any treating eye care practitioner to provide patients with the full range of options to correct all types of refractive error...

Conclusions: High myopic eyes requiring larger amounts of laser correction and eyes undergoing conventional LASIK tend to induce more coma-like aberration after surgery. Wavefront-guided LASIK may be a better surgical approach for preventing the induction of coma-like aberrations, especially in eyes with high myopia. PMID: 21950695 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Current Eye Research)

Authors: Shtein RM Abstract Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) is a frequently performed corneal refractive surgery with excellent refractive outcomes. The most common complication of LASIK is dry eyes, with virtually all patients developing some degree of dryness in the immediate postoperative period. Identifying preoperative dry eyes, and conscientious attention and treatment in the perioperative time period, can lead to enhanced patient satisfaction and more accurate visual outcomes. Improved understanding of the development of dry eyes after LASIK will advance our understanding of the complex pathophysiology of dry eye disease. PMID: 22174730 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Expert Review of Ophthalmology)

Title: FDA Warns LASIK Providers: Stop Making False ClaimsCategory: Health NewsCreated: 9/30/2011 8:05:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 9/30/2011 (Source: MedicineNet Senior Health General)

Conclusion: This case focuses on the utilization of a wavefront-optimized LASIK treatment profile to eliminate a high magnitude of astigmatic refractive error without inducing higher-order aberrations. Wavefront-guided treatments are not required in most cases but should be considered if the magnitude of preoperative root-mean-square higher-order aberrations is greater than 0.35 μm. Wavefront-optimized aspheric corneal ablations attempt to avoid reducing the prolate eccentricity of the average cornea, and optimized treatments have shown improved visual outcomes compared with conventional LASIK treatments. A thorough knowledge of refractive surgery is important for any treating eye care practitioner to provide patients with the full range of options to correct all types of refractive error...

Purpose: To demonstrate the effectiveness of refractive surgery with an excimer laser to correct hyperopia and convergent strabismus caused by compensatory accommodation of refractive error. Design: Prospective, interventional, noncomparative case series. Participants: Forty-six eyes of 23 patients with hyperopia and fully or partially refractive accommodative esotropia. Methods: Patients were treated with an excimer laser and the LASIK technique between 2000 and 2010. Main Outcome Measures: Preoperative and postoperative refractive spherical equivalent and ocular alignment. Results: Mean age±standard deviation [SD] was 25±12.6 years. Mean hyperopia±SD was 3.67±1.28 diopters (D) before surgery and 0.21±0.59 D after surgery (P (Source: Ophthalmology)

Find out about implanted contact lenses that can help some people with severe nearsightedness, when LASIK isn't an option. (Source: WebMD Health)

Laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) flap striae can act as a Maddox rod, producing streaks of light perpendicular to the orientation of the striae. This phenomenon can be used in the diagnostic and surgical decision-making process after LASIK. We correlated persistent complaints of starburst by a patient to the presence of LASIK flap striae in both eyes. The more severe striae were subsequently treated with phototherapeutic keratectomy, with complete resolution of symptoms. The LASIK flap striae–induced Maddox rod effect can be used as a simple and useful method with high diagnostic and therapeutic value.Financial Disclosure: Neither author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)

Conclusion: No clinically significant differences in terms of visual recovery, epithelial closure time, pain perception, and haze formation between LASEK and epi-LASIK were detected regardless of epithelial flap retention.Financial Disclosure: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. Additional disclosures are found in the footnotes. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)

Keratectasia is a rare but severe complication of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). As the number of patients who have refractive surgery increases, more cases of ectasia are being recognized. The best predictor for the development of ectasia after LASIK is the presence of an overlooked ectatic disorder preoperatively, in which case LASIK is an aggravating factor for the acceleration of the ectatic process. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)

Ophthalmologica (DOI:10.1159/000331280) (Source: Ophthalmologica)MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Conclusions. Epi-LASIK had a satisfactory long-term effect for high myopia of less than -10 D. Myopic regression limited the satisfaction of epi-LASIK in eyes with myopia of more than -10.0 D. PMID: 21928261 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: European Journal of Ophthalmology)

Conclusions: LASIK for high myopia using optimized aspherical profiles and the Amaris excimer laser is a safe, effective, and predictable procedure. (Source: American Journal of Ophthalmology)

I congratulate Symes and Ursell on their well-designed, well-executed study and their excellent discussion comparing automated keratometry (K) and Scheimpflug in the preoperative assessment of cataract patients. In their study, they confirmed almost exactly the results we found in the original article on equivalent K readings over a 4.5 mm zone, with a difference of only −0.018 diopter (D), a 95.3% r value, and a standard deviation of 0.47 D (ours was 0.56 D for the laser in situ keratomileusis [LASIK] patients). I would like to comment on 2 points raised in the article. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)

A 31-year-old man presented to the refractive surgery service seeking corrective surgery in the left eye. He had laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) elsewhere approximately 18 months previously; however, the surgery was apparently aborted in the left eye because of a partial microkeratome flap. The surgery in the right eye was uneventful. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)

The AS-OCT suggests that the flap thickness is in the 180 μm range centrally, although it is a little difficult to tell. The spectral-domain image gives the appearance of a stromal flap underneath the LASIK flap. Although it would be nice to see the depth measurements of this central zone of stromal disruption, by inspection it appears to extend to about 25% of the depth of the cornea (consistent with the AS-OCT numbers). (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Although partial flap formation, an unfortunate complication of microkeratome LASIK, is infrequent, the morbidity can be severe, as shown by this case. It looks to me as though the partial flap may be curled under at its edge, giving the serrated, vertical line, particularly visible on the retroillumination picture. On the diffuse-light frontal photograph, one can see the epithelial ingrowth extending toward the center of the visual axis, resulting in cloudy vision for the patient. This is confirmed on the OCT studies. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)

Authors: Michałowska-Wender G, Biernacka-Łukanty J, Lasik Z, Jernas L, Wender M Abstract Interleukin 17 (IL-17) and its receptor IL-17R1 produced by T-helper cells named Th17 are involved in the pathology of autoimmune diseases. In contrast to the at least partially explained role of IL-17 in pathology of multiple sclerosis, the significance of IL-17R in MS is unclear. Therefore we have studied the expression of IL-17R in the stable phase of multiple sclerosis treated by interferon β-1a. The studied material consisted of 20 MS patients with relapsing-remitting form of the disease, and fulfilling the diagnostic McDonald et al. criteria. The patients were treated subcutaneously every second day with 30 mg of interferon β -1a (Betaferon). The interleukin 17 receptor level was meas...

Authors: Sueke H, Ramasamy B, Tey A, Kaye S PMID: 21865199 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The British Journal of Ophthalmology)

Conclusion: The anterior segment measurements provided by the new Scheimpflug camera–Placido corneal topography system were highly repeatable and can be relied on in clinical routine and for research purposes.Financial Disclosure: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)

Conclusion: Compared with custom LASIK based on undilated wavescans, use of dilated wavescans for custom LASIK resulted in comparable postoperative outcomes.Financial Disclosure: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Purpose: To prospectively compare intraoperative subtraction pachymetry flap thickness measurements and postoperative anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) flap thickness measurements in eyes that had laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) flap creation with a femtosecond laser or a mechanical microkeratome.Setting: Stanford Eye Laser Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.Design: Comparative case series.Methods: Each patient received wavefront-guided LASIK using an Intralase femtosecond laser in 1 eye and a Hansatome mechanical microkeratome in the fellow eye. Flap morphology was assessed with an ultrasound pachymeter intraoperatively and an AS-OCT system postoperatively at 1 year.Results: Thirty-six eyes (18 patients) were enrolled. Intra...

Conclusion In patients with primary myopic astigmatism treated with FSBK, we found an statistically significant higher rate of enhancements in eyes with high myopic astigmatism ( 26.9 % ) than in eyes with low myopic astigmatism ( 6.48 % ). (Source: Acta Ophthalmologica)

Conclusion LASIK surgery decreases the corneal hysteresis and corneal resistance factor. The percentage decline of corneal hysteresis and corneal resistance factor after LASIK surgery was no different between the three groups based on the preoperative hysteresis. Although there is a correlation between variations of the CH and CRF, with microns of ablation and the refractive error corrected. (Source: Acta Ophthalmologica)

Conclusion This is a case of DLK with an extremely delayed onset, which emphasizes the importance of following‐up of these patients not only in the early postoperative period. (Source: Acta Ophthalmologica)

Conclusion Is there a difference between surface PRK and Lasik ? Hinged flap induced transection of large number of afferent sensory nerve fibers during lamellar cut, that impacts the integrated lacrymal gland OS functional unit. Finally, Lasik is responsible of more dry eye syndrome that PRK, that should be prefered in case of preoperative Ocular surface disorder. (Source: Acta Ophthalmologica)MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Conclusion Femtosecond lasers can creat EK lenticules with a quality of stromal interface comparable to refractive surgery. (Source: Acta Ophthalmologica)

Conclusion Our results suggest that tear film osmolarity measured with the TearLabTM Osmolarity system tends to achieve normal values three months after MM‐LASIK, FS‐LASIK and LASEK. (Source: Acta Ophthalmologica)

Conclusion In our experience I‐lasik procedure demonstrated itself to be safe and effective also in patients with residual refractive errors from previous i‐lasik and lasik treatments. (Source: Acta Ophthalmologica)

Conclusion LASIK flap strength can be increased biologically but the challenge now is to apply these methods in an animal model to assess the long term of the efficacy of increasing flap adhesion strength and maintain corneal transparency and its potential use in medical intervention. 1. Mi S, Dooley EP, Albon J, Boulton ME, Meek KM, Kamma‐Lorger CS. J Cataract Refract Surg. 2011; 37(1):166‐72 (Source: Acta Ophthalmologica)

Conclusion Femtosecond laser technology may offer further promising approaches towards all‐FSL refractive surgery, and dissection procedures in the field of corneal transplantation (Source: Acta Ophthalmologica)MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Conclusions. This study has shown that the ReLEx procedure may result in less topographic changes, inflammation, and early extracellular matrix deposition than LASIK, especially at high refractive correction. (Source: Investigative Ophthalmology)

John-Kenyon American Eye Institute PSC has upgraded to a new blade-free laser for LASIK surgeries, according to a news release. The release said the practice is the first in Kentucky to offer the iFS laser, which can complete procedures in 10 seconds per eye. It also offers shorter recovery times with fewer dry-eye symptoms. John-Kenyon was the sixth ophthalmology group in the nation to install the IntraLase blade-free LASIK method in 2003, and the iFS is the most recent upgrade. “NASA astronauts and U... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Hospitals headlines)

A 45-year-old woman developed a spontaneous flap-margin-related corneal ulcer 11 years after the original laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) procedure. Two enhancements had been performed; the most recent was 3 years prior to presentation. Cultures were positive for a heavy growth of Klebsiella oxytoca. The ulcer responded clinically to topical treatment with fortified cefazolin. Eighteen days after presentation, the infiltrate had resolved and the cornea had fully epithelialized. To our knowledge, this is the first report of post-LASIK infectious keratitis caused by K oxytoca.Financial Disclosure: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)

Conclusions: Metaanalysis showed no clear evidence of a benefit of wavefront-guided over non-wavefront-guided ablations. However, there was a lack of standardized reporting of UDVA better than 20/20, which might mask an advantage in wavefront-guided treatment. With high preexisting HOAs, wavefront-guided has advantages over non-wavefront-guided treatment.Financial Disclosure: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)

Conclusions: Monovision correction by LASIK improved functional near vision in presbyopic patients. Although visual acuity was good for far vision, contrast sensitivity and stereoacuity diminished significantly.Financial Disclosure: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Purpose: To study corneal backscatter changes after laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK) and to search for correlations between the changes in forward and backward corneal light scatter.Setting: Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium.Design: Prospective interventional case series.Method: Corneal backscatter was determined with a commercial Scheimpflug device and purpose-written image-analysis software. The mean backscatter profile and gray value distributions of the images for a 1.0 mm zone around the corneal apex were obtained preoperatively and 6 months after LASEK for myopia. This was compared with forward light scatter (or straylight) using measurements obtained with the compensation comparison method.Results: The study enrolled 80 eyes (40 patients; mean age 34.2 yea...

Conclusion  Further studies are needed to determine the efficacy and adverse effect profile of topical IL-1ra in human eyes. Clinical Relevance  IL-1ra therapy may be an alternative to steroid treatment following PRK. (Source: Archives of Opthalmology)

The Role of "Eye Platelet Rich Plasma" (E-Prp) for Wound Healing in Ophthalmology. Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 2011 Jul 8; Authors: Alió JL, Arnalich-Montiel F, Rodriguez AE Blood derived products have demonstrated their capacity to enhance healing and stimulate the regeneration of different tissues and this enhancing effect is attributed to the growth factors and bioactive proteins that are synthesized and present in blood. Eye platelet rich plasma (E-PRP) provides higher concentration of essential growth factors and cell adhesion molecules by concentrating platelets in a small volume of plasma as compared with autologous serum, the latter being used widely in ophthalmology for epithelial wound healing of the cornea for the last two decades. These growth factors and cell adhesion ...

Conclusions: Corneal thickness decreases significantly during CXL, even to a level where the health of the endothelium and cornea is jeopardized. Visual performance is improved 6 months after CXL. (Source: American Journal of Ophthalmology)

Conclusion: LASIK is an effective procedure for treatment of hyperopia. Pupil-centered and vertex-centered treatments provide similar visual and optical outcomes. However, in eyes showing large temporal pupil decentration, pupil-centered ablation seemed to produce a lower amount of coma and, as a consequence, a reduced loss of BCVA compared with vertex-centered patients. (Source: American Journal of Ophthalmology)MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Authors: P Lazon de la Jara, D Erickson, P Erickson & F Stapleton (Source: Eye)

ABSTRACTThis paper aims to review the current methods available for the measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP) after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for the correction of myopia. Searches were performed for studies that assessed or compared various methods of obtaining IOP after myopic LASIK. The MEDLINE database was systemically reviewed via PubMed, The Cochrane Library, OvidSP and ScienceDirect. There were 20 eligible studies that explored the use of pneumotonometry, pressure phosphene tonometry, rebound tonometry, dynamic contour tonometry, statistical modeling, mathematical formulae, ocular response analyzer and even measuring IOP on the nasal cornea. Our review shows that an ideal method to measure IOP in post LASIK patients would be one that is independent of corneal factors....

Conclusions:  The results suggest that the WFO profile seems to over‐ablate corneal tissue both in PRK and LASIK. Over‐ablation exerts significant impact on refractive outcomes only in high spherocylindrical corrections that require a significant amount of tissue to be ablated. (Source: Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology)

A 50-year-old woman came for consultation because of progressive visual loss in the left eye during the past few months. She had laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) in both eyes in 1996. Preoperatively, the right eye had a refraction of −19.50 −0.50 × 180, an uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) of counting fingers (CF), and a corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) of 20/50+. The left eye had a refraction of −15.00 diopters (D), a UDVA of CF, and a CDVA of 20/40+. Five months later, the right eye had LASIK enhancement to treat a residual sphere of −3.50 D. The patient had been without complaints for several years, and her ophthalmologic examinations had been normal. In 2007, the right eye had a refraction of −0.50 −1.50 × 30, a UDVA of 20/40, and a CDVA of 20/40+. The ...

This case represents an increasingly common scenario in ophthalmic practice today: a patient who had previous successful LASIK presents with a myopic shift and a clinically significant cataract. I would not recommend additional laser vision correction (LVC) for this patient because the advancing cataract would likely cause further refractive shift and degradation of visual acuity. After performing a complete ophthalmic examination, I would recommend cataract surgery and proceed with appropriate preoperative testing for a post-LASIK cataract patient. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

This patient has cataract in the left eye and a history of LASIK for very high myopia, with the irregular astigmatism and very oblate cornea typical after a LASIK procedure. No significant asymmetric astigmatism is seen on the Placido-based scans. Ectasia is in the differential diagnosis for late changes after LASIK and may be picked up better by elevation topography. In this patient, however, the vision change is clearly from the progressive cataract and cataract surgery is indicated for the falling visual function. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)

Purpose: To evaluate and characterize the clinical features of corneal ectasia after myopic laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) considering internal astigmatism and corneal aberrations and their correlation with other clinical data.Setting: Vissum-Instituto de Oftalmológico de Alicante, Alicante, Spain.Design: Retrospective comparative case series.Methods: In this multicenter study, eyes were divided into 2 groups. The study group comprised eyes that had corneal ectasia after myopic LASIK. The control group comprised eyes that had successful LASIK to correct high myopia. The clinical outcomes were analyzed and compared. Internal astigmatism was calculated using vectorial analysis.Results: The study enrolled 91 eyes (48 study group; 40 control group) of 81 patients (age 18 to 67 years). U...

Purpose: To evaluate changes in corneal topography indices after corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) in patients with keratoconus and corneal ectasia and analyze associations of these changes with visual acuity.Setting: Cornea and refractive surgery subspecialty practice.Design: Prospective randomized controlled clinical trial.Methods: Corneal collagen crosslinking was performed in eyes with keratoconus or ectasia. Quantitative descriptors of corneal topography were measured with the Pentacam topographer and included 7 indices: index of surface variance, index of vertical asymmetry, keratoconus index, central keratoconus index, minimum radius of curvature, index of height asymmetry, and index of height decentration. Follow-up was 1 year.Results: The study comprised 71 eyes, 49 with keratoc...

Conclusion: There appeared to be no statistically significant difference in self-reported dry-eye symptoms between the mechanical keratome group and the femtosecond laser keratome group.Financial Disclosure: Neither author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)

Conclusion: There is a well documented change in corneal biomechanical properties following a LASIK procedure. This study reveals that this change may be predominantly due to laser ablation. However, flap creation with the Intralase laser does produce a biomechanical consequence consistent with reduction of corneal stiffness, as measured by the reduced amplitude of Peak 1. CH and CRF do not fully characterize this change. PMID: 21657826 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Current Eye Research)MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Conclusions: Like FML, Tet could inhibit haze formation in rabbits after Epi-LASIK surgery, possible through TGF-β(2)-collagen-III pathway. PMID: 21675845 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Current Eye Research)

Conclusions  In patients with ocular hypertension, the 3-month percentage of IOP reduction in the first treated eye in response to SLT was predictive of response in the fellow eye up to 30 months. In patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, the 3-month percentage of IOP reduction in the first treated eye in response to SLT was predictive of response in the fellow eye up to 9 months. (Source: Archives of Opthalmology)

Conclusions:  Wavefront LASIK for the treatment of astigmatism using IR technology was effective and accurate for the treatment of myopic astigmatism. (Source: Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology)

Conclusion: Monovision is successful for the far majority of patients who try it. However, in patients with a previous history of strabismus or those with significant phorias, caution should be used in recommending monovision, and if monovision is elected, keeping the anisometropia to small levels such as 1.25 to 1.50 diopters (D) might lessen the chance of producing strabismus post monovision. The majority of our patients developed strabismus after 2 years of monovision, telling us that while a trial of monovision with a contact lens prior to surgery may suggest that the patient could tolerate monovision, it is not a guarantee. (Source: American Journal of Ophthalmology)

Conclusion: LASIK is effective in treating refractive error following RK. However, it carries the risk of flap-related complications like opening up of the previously placed RK incisions and splitting of the corneal flap. (Source: Indian Journal of Ophthalmology)MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

KS Santhan GopalIndian Journal of Ophthalmology 2011 59(4):331-332 (Source: Indian Journal of Ophthalmology)

Conclusions. On- and off-flap epi-LASIK showed comparable clinical outcomes after surgery. Off-flap epi-LASIK had more rapid re-epithelialization and normalization of epithelial morphology than did on-flap epi-LASIK, when observed by in vivo confocal microscopy. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00491439.) (Source: Investigative Ophthalmology)

Corneal refractive surgery was first introduced in 1995 when the Food and Drug Administration approved the first excimer laser for treating mild to moderate myopia. The procedure provides an alternative means of correcting patients' refractive error. Two of the most common ways this procedure can be performed are Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) and Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). More recently, screening qualifying candidates for any pre-existing risk factors has become more rigorous to avoid post-LASIK complications, the most serious of which is post-LASIK ectasia, where the cornea is weakened to the point of gradual thinning and bulging. Evaluating corneal topography is getting more critical for those patients seeking corneal refractive surgery. (Source: Optometry - Jour...

Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) is 1 of the most common refractive procedures performed both in the United States and around the world, with reports ranging from 700,000 to 4,000,000 procedures annually. Complications for this procedure are well-known and have been described extensively. This case, we believe, exhibits the first report of an interesting idiopathic variation possibly related to the potential space caused by flap creation. (Source: Optometry - Journal of the American Optometric Association)

Keratoconus is a disorder that gradually deteriorates the cornea's optics and mechanical integrity by thinning and bulging, a process called ectasia. Finding new treatment options to arrest ectasia is an area of current and active ophthalmic research, and corneal collagen cross-linking is emerging as the procedure that can prevent patients from progressive vision loss from keratoconus as well as a treatment for patients with post–laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) ectasia. (Source: Optometry - Journal of the American Optometric Association)MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Conclusions. Flap creation could be performed easily without any complications. The morphology and accuracy of the cuts were very reliable and precise. Histology showed a smooth cut. PMID: 21623593 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: European Journal of Ophthalmology)

Content Type Journal ArticlePages 1-3DOI 10.1007/s10384-011-0037-zAuthors Masako Kanayama, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USAShintaro Kanayama, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USABryan Kim, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USATueng T. Shen, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA Journal Japanese Journal of OphthalmologyOnline ISSN 1613-2246Print ISSN 0021-5155 (Source: Japanese Journal of Ophthalmology)

(Source: Dishler Laser)

Conclusions:  These data describe a novel and conserved role for Lmo genes in flies and mice in behavioral responses to ethanol. These studies also demonstrate the feasibility of rapidly translating findings from invertebrate systems to mammalian models of alcohol abuse by combining RNA interference in transgenic mice and behavioral testing. PMID: 21599714 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research)

We report a case of bilateral corneal opacities in a laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) patient who subsequently had carbon dioxide (CO2) laser skin resurfacing. The presumed etiology of the visually significant corneal opacities was late-onset diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK), secondary to traumatic corneal abrasions from the use of metal eye shields. The DLK went untreated for 1 month, resulting in permanent interface scarring and a corrected distance visual acuity of 20/30 in the patient’s right eye and 20/20 in the left eye. We think patients who have had LASIK and are planning to have CO2 laser skin resurfacing or any procedure that uses protective metal eye shields should be counseled about the risk for late-onset DLK as a potential complication. This warning is particularly germ...MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Conclusions: Wavefront-guided epi-LASIK with MMC was effective, safe, and predictable in treating myopia and myopic astigmatism. Eyes that had flap-off epi-LASIK had less pain and faster visual recovery. Visual results, refractive outcomes, contrast sensitivity, and HOAs were comparable between groups.Financial Disclosure: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)

Conclusions: In eyes with previous hyperopic LASIK, the diffractive IOL provided good visual quality at distance, comparable to that obtained in phakic eyes under photopic conditions, although visual performance was slightly poorer under mesopic conditions.Financial Disclosure: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)

Conclusions: Volume of excimer laser refractive surgery decreased by at least 30% between 2007 and 2009. No significant change in mean age or in the distribution of refractive error was seen, although the proportion of high myopes decreased between summer quarters of 2007 and 2009. PRK gained as a proportion of total cases. Premium IOL volume increased, but still comprised a very small proportion of total IOL volume. (Source: BMC Ophthalmology - Latest articles)

Conclusion: Intracorneal inlay implantation was an effective, safe, and reversible procedure for the long-term surgical treatment of presbyopia.Financial Disclosure: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. Additional disclosure is found in the footnotes. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)

Conclusions. Specific optic parameters (refractive power, K value, CCT, and ACD) have no significant correlation with straylight. Although straylight increased during the early postoperative period, the parameter returned to preoperative levels over time. (Source: Investigative Ophthalmology)MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Conclusions  Pre-plus disease observed early during the course of ROP is strongly associated with the development of severe ROP requiring laser treatment. The diagnosis of pre-plus disease has prognostic value beyond that already provided by birth weight, gestational age, ROP zone, and ROP stage. Eyes with pre-plus disease should be closely observed to allow optimal timing of intervention. (Source: Archives of Opthalmology)

Conclusion: Although less vacuum is required to create a corneal flap with a femtosecond laser than with a conventional microkeratome, the incidence of PVD after femtosecond laser–assisted LASIK was similar to that reported for microkeratome-assisted LASIK.Financial Disclosure: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)

Purpose: To evaluate the risks of flap displacement after LASIK.Design: Retrospective case series.Participants: We included 41 845 consecutive adults who underwent LASIK surgery at Optical Express in the United Kingdom, including 81 238 eyes, of which 14 555 were hyperopic and 66 681 myopic or mixed astigmatic. We treated 57 241 eyes with the IntraLase FS-60 femtosecond laser and 23 997 with the Moria S.A. ONE Use-Plus automated microkeratome.Methods: We calculated the incidence of all flap displacements in the study population during an observational time period of ≥12 months after surgery. Independent variables were entered into logistic regression models to identify risk factors. Postoperative outcomes were assessed.Main Outcome Measures: The incidence and odds ratios (OR) of flap dis...

Abstract: Interleukin 15 participates in the development of important immune antitumor mechanisms. It activates CD8+ T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, NK T cells, and can promote the formation of antitumor antibodies. IL-15 can also protect T effector cells from the action of T regulatory cells and reverse tolerance to tumor-associated antigens. In pre-clinical studies IL-15 has been found to demonstrate potentiated antitumor effects following pre-association with IL-15Rα, or when used in combination with chemotherapy, adoptive therapy, monoclonal antibodies, and tumor vaccines. Although a clinical trial based on application of IL-15 in tumor patients has already begun, it is important to be aware of its potential side effects, including induction of autoimmunity and promotion of prolif...

Authors: Rüfer F Reliable measurements of the intraocular pressure (IOP) are necessary for glaucoma patients. The measuring procedure, anatomical changes of the eye or extraocular influences can lead to errors during applanation tonometry. The IOP is overestimated if measured through the wrong eyepiece of the slit lamp, if a force is interfering with the tonometer arm during the measurement, if the lid comes into contact with the tonometer tip, if blepharospasm occurs, if there is lid retraction or if a Valsalva maneuver is present. An underestimation of the IOP occurs if staining with fluorescein is absent or insufficient, if the illumination is not bright enough, if a corneal stromal edema is present, after LASIK, during accommodation, during repeated measures within a few minutes o...MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Conclusions:  Standard myopic LASIK decreases ocular optical quality. For most subjects, the increase in aberrations induced by the surgery was stable during the next 9 months after LASIK. However, further changes of the ocular SA after myopic LASIK are possible in patients treated for higher amounts of myopia. The changes in aberrations mainly appeared between the first and the sixth month after surgery, which suggests the need to wait at least 6 months after myopic LASIK before comparing outcomes, especially for patients treated for higher myopias. (Source: Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics)

CONCLUSION:Both wavefront-optimized ablation and topography-guided ablation provided good refractive results, but the latter induced fewer HOAs. PMID: 21534496 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Ophthalmic Surgery, Lasers and Imaging : the Official Journal of the International Society for Imaging in the Eye)

Although titled as a lay person’s guide to overcoming complications of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and other ophthalmic surgeries, this book is ideally suited for the preoperative patient considering any type of ophthalmic surgery. This book addresses preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative elements of each surgery in patient-oriented detail. The authors use a writing style that is highly accessible to the general public and present a gentle, thorough, honest, and unbiased perspective of the risks and benefits of surgery from an ophthalmologist. (Source: Optometry - Journal of the American Optometric Association)

This case raises 2 dilemmas. The first relates to safety and the other to accuracy. Regarding safety, are these corneas acceptable for LASIK, or would surface ablation or a noncorneal procedure be appropriate? This question is raised by the difference in the central corneal thickness, 608 μm in the right eye and 633 μm in the left eye, with the thinnest point being 603 μm and 555 μm, respectively, both slightly offset from the corneal center. Given the patient's age, that tissue removal centrally will be minimal, that corneal thickness is good, that there is no inferior steepening, and that the posterior elevation is within normal limits, I believe LASIK would be safe in this case. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)

Conclusions: Hyperopic LASIK performed with the IntraLase femtosecond laser seems to achieve better refractive results 3 months after the surgery compared to the M2 microkeratome, without significant differences in safety between both procedures. (Source: American Journal of Ophthalmology)

Conclusion: The quality of vision worsened in the early postoperative period but returned to preoperative levels by 1 month and was better than preoperative levels by 3 months post LASEK.Financial Disclosure: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)

This report concerns the case of a 28-year-old female patient who was treated with topical steroids for 2 years following complicated hyperopic LASIK surgery with a re-treatment including a re-lift of the flap. A steroid-induced rise in the intraocular pressure (IOP) was subsequently observed on the treated eye, together with a glaucomatous subtotal destruction of the optic nerve, resulting in a residual vision of 1/15. An erroneously low IOP measurement, which was probably the reason for the delay in detecting steroid-induced glaucoma, has been reported in several cases concerning LASIK patients. The reason for the unusually severe course in the case in question can only be presumed, namely a possible accumulation of fluid at the interface or altered biomechanics following hyperopic LASIK...

As people age and find it harder to read small print — a common condition called presbyopia — glasses or contacts might be necessary. (Source: NYT)MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

As people age and find it harder to read small print — a common condition called presbyopia — glasses or contacts might be necessary. (Source: NYT Health)

Conclusions: Three months postoperatively, all procedures resulted in an increase in ocular and cornealHOAs and SA. Induced aberrations were most strongly correlated to the applied spherical power correction. Modifying the existing ablation pattern to compensate for induced HOAs might improve the outcome. PMID: 21708087 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology)

On Oct. 19, 2010, we reported on the progress1 of the LASIK Quality of Life Collaboration Project (LQOLCP), a government partnership among the FDA, the Department of Defense, and the National Eye Institute. This project examines patient-reported... (Source: Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA): CDRHNew)

Conclusion: The femtosecond laser yielded precise flap dimensions with a narrow standard deviation and a high level of safety.Financial Disclosure: Neither author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Conclusions: The femtosecond laser created LASIK flaps with uniform and predictable thicknesses. Fourier-domain OCT gave highly repeatable flap-thickness measurements.Financial Disclosure: Drs. Rosas Salaroli, Zhang, Branco Ramos, and Allemann have no financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. Additional disclosures are found in the footnotes. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)

Conclusions: MyoRing implantation using femtosecond technology in keratoconus allows successful corneal modeling, although the use of large diameters is advisable.Financial Disclosure(s): Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references. (Source: Ophthalmology)

Conclusions. In eyes after refractive surgery, calculating posterior corneal power using the Gaussian formula and its paraxial assumptions introduces errors in the calculation of total corneal power. This may generate errors in intraocular lens power calculation when using the Gaussian formula after refractive surgery. (Source: Investigative Ophthalmology)

Conclusions: Mycobacterium was identified as the causative organism of this outbreak. This study shows the possibility of an epidemic of post-LASIK infectious keratitis.Financial Disclosure: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)

WaveTec Vision, the leader in wavefront-guided custom cataract™ surgery, announced today that its ORange® intraoperative wavefront aberrometer has been shown to be more predictable in determining refraction in the post-refractive eye, than any other post-LASIK formula currently available. "Following LASIK, patients expect a lifetime of quality uncorrected vision. Unfortunately, these same patients are the most difficult to predict the optimal IOL power when they develop cataracts" Wavefront custom cataract aberrometry with ORange is a breakthrough in modern cataract surgery... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

ALISO VIEJO, Calif.--(Healthcare Sales & Marketing Network)-- WaveTec Vision, the leader in wavefront-guided custom cataract™ surgery, announced today that its ORange® intraoperative wavefront aberrometer has been shown to be more predictable in determ... Devices, OphthalmologyWaveTec Vision, wavefront aberrometer, cataract (Source: HSMN NewsFeed)

A technology created by University of Rochester physicians and scientists that has helped boost the eyesight of patients to unprecedented levels is now more widely available, thanks to approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The technology, called the Rochester Nomogram, marks a leap forward for patients who receive refractive surgery, also broadly known as LASIK. Refractive surgeon Scott MacRae, M.D., helped develop the formula which has helped him achieve nearly unparalleled results in broad groups of patients. With the aid of the Nomogram, a remarkable 99... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Conclusion Crosslinking in patients with iatrogenic keratectasia stabilised the UCVA and BCVA as well as the maximum k-readings in our cohort. It seems to be a safe and promising procedure to stabilise the refraction and the corneal topography, and thus to stop the progression of visual loss, thereby avoiding or delaying disease progression and keratoplasty. (Source: British Journal of Ophthalmology)

This control-matched comparative study evaluated changes in contrast sensitivity after Zyoptix tissue-saving (TS) LASIK and Planoscan standard LASIK (Technolas 217z, Bausch & Lomb) for myopia 6 months postoperatively. 102 TS LASIK-treated eyes were matched with 102 standard LASIK-treated eyes (divided into low, moderate, and high groups). There were no significant differences in refraction outcomes between the groups postoperatively. In high group, a significant reduction in contrast sensitivity after TS LASIK was found at high spatial frequencies (P<.05) under photopic conditions and at middle to high spatial frequencies (P<.05) under mesopic conditions. And significant reduction was also found in standard LASIK at high spatial frequency (P<.05) under mesopic cond...MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Conclusion: This study demonstrated the effectiveness of LASEK for the treatment of myopia with this flying-spot excimer laser.Financial Disclosure: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. (Source: Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery)

CONCLUSION:Surgical overcorrection in wavefront-guided LASIK for myopic astigmatism correlates positively with the amount of spherical equivalent treated and preoperative spherical aberration. Nomograms incorporating spherical aberration may improve accuracy of outcomes. PMID: 21410091 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Ophthalmic Surgery, Lasers and Imaging : the Official Journal of the International Society for Imaging in the Eye)

Conclusions. In the myopia group, the KM showed close correspondence with KA and an inverse relationship with SE and CCT. In hyperopes, an inverse correlation between the KM and SE was found, but no correlation with CCT was evident. (Source: Investigative Ophthalmology)

Abstract: Purpose: To compare the refractive and visual outcomes using the Schwind Amaris excimer laser in patients with high astigmatism (>1D) with and without the static cyclotorsion compensation (SCC) algorithm available with this new laser platform.Methods: 70 consecutive eyes with ≥1D astigmatism were randomized to treatment with compensation of static cyclotorsion (SCC group- 35 eyes) or not (control group- 35 eyes). A previously validated optimized aspheric ablation algorithm profile was used in every case. All patients underwent LASIK with a microkeratome cut flap.Results: The SCC and control group did not differ preoperatively, in terms of refractive error, magnitude of astigmatism or in terms of cardinal or oblique astigmatism. Following treatment, average deviation from target...