Keratectasia after Laser in situ Keratomileusis

Evaluation of the percentage tissue altered as a risk factor for developing post-laser in situ keratomileusis ectasia

PURPOSE

To assess the currently recommended percentage tissue altered (PTA) metric for its ability to screen for ectasia after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).

SETTING

Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California, Irvine, California, USA, and Rothschild Foundation, Paris, France.

DESIGN

Retrospective case series.

METHODS

The study used a LASIK database created by 1 surgeon for LASIK cases with normal preoperative topography that had a minimum follow-up of 24 months with complete preoperative and intraoperative data to permit the calculation of PTA values to detect eyes at risk for developing ectasia.

RESULTS

Of the eyes, 593 eyes had complete data and met the inclusion criteria. Based on measured flap thickness, 126 eyes (21%) had a PTA value of 40% or more (mean 44) and a percentage of that flap thickness accounted for the PTA (mean 66.7%; range 34% to 92%). The mean attempted laser ablation was 79.8 μm ± 29.2 (SD), and the mean residual bed thickness was 304.4 ± 29.2 μm (range 212 to 369 μm). No eye developed ectasia over a mean follow-up of 30 months.

CONCLUSIONS

The current PTA calculation when applied to a LASIK population with normal preoperative topography and flap thickness measured with ultrasound did not predict the risk for ectasia. Differences between study populations and assumptions might have accounted for the different outcomes obtained in the initially published PTA study.

Ultrastructural and three-dimensional study of post-LASIK ectasia cornea

INTRODUCTION

Post-laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) corneal ectasia is a serious late postoperative complication. Here, we report the ultrastructural features of the post-LASIK cornea of two patients.

METHODS

Two normal corneas (age 24 and 37 years old) and two post-LASIK ectaic corneas from two patients (A and B) were studied. The "patient A" (age 27 years) underwent penetrating keratoplasty and "patient B" (age 31 years) underwent deep-anterior lamellar keratoplasty. The excised corneas were processed for light and electron microscopy. A total of 120 images for three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction were taken by using the software "Recorder" and using a bottom mounted camera "Quemesa" attached to a JOEL 1400 transmission electron microscope. The 3D images were constructed using "Visual Kai" software.

RESULTS

In the post-LASIK cornea, the hemidesmosomes, the basement membrane, and Bowman"s layer were abnormal. The stromal lamellae were thin and disorganized. The collagen fibrils (CFs) diameter and interfibrillar spacing had decreased. Aggregated microfibrils were present in the Bowman's layer and all parts of the stroma. A large number of microfilaments were present at the detachment end of the flap and residual stroma. The 3D images showed the presence of collagen microfibrils and proteoglycans (PGs) within the CF of the normal and post-LASIK cornea. The collagen microfibrils and PGs within the CFs had degenerated in the post-LASIK cornea.

CONCLUSION

Collagen microfibrils and PGs within the CFs were degenerated, leading to the degeneration of CFs, followed by the disorganization of lamellae in post-LASIK cornea. The CFs diameter and interfibrillar spacing decreased.

Comparison of the changes in corneal biomechanical properties after photorefractive keratectomy and laser in situ keratomileusis

PURPOSE

To compare the postoperative biomechanical properties of the cornea after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) in eyes with myopia.

METHODS

We retrospectively examined 27 eyes of 16 patients undergoing PRK and 31 eyes of 16 patients undergoing LASIK for the correction of myopia. Corneal hysteresis (CH) and corneal resistance factor (CRF) were measured with Ocular Response Analyzer before and 3 months after surgery. We also investigated the relationship between these biomechanical changes and the amount of myopic correction.

RESULTS

The CH was decreased significantly from 10.8 +/- 1.3 (mean +/- SD) mmHg to 9.2 +/- 1.6 mmHg after PRK (P < 0.001), and from 10.8 +/- 1.4 mmHg to 8.6 +/- 0.9 mmHg after LASIK (P < 0.001). The CRF was also decreased significantly, from 10.3 +/- 1.5 mmHg to 8.4 +/- 1.8 mmHg after PRK (P < 0.001), and from 10.3 +/- 1.5 mmHg to 7.7 +/- 1.3 mmHg after LASIK (P < 0.001). The amount of decrease in CH and CRF was significantly larger after LASIK than after PRK (P = 0.04). There was a significant correlation between the amount of myopic correction and changes in biomechanical properties after PRK (r = -0.61, P < 0.01 for CH, r = -0.41, P < 0.05 for CRF) and LASIK (r = -0.37, P < 0.05 for CH, r = -0.45, P < 0.05 for CRF).

CONCLUSIONS

Both PRK and LASIK can affect the biomechanical strength of the cornea depending on the amount of myopic correction. The amount of biomechanical changes is larger after LASIK than after PRK. From a biomechanical viewpoint, PRK may be a less invasive surgical approach for the correction of myopia than LASIK.

Keratectasia after laser in situ keratomileusis: a histopathologic and immunohistochemical study

OBJECTIVE

To examine histopathologic and immunohistochemical features of human corneal buttons from patients who developed keratectasia after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).

METHODS

Five corneal buttons were obtained during penetrating keratoplasty from patients who developed keratectasia after LASIK. Histologic features were examined by hematoxylin-eosin staining using paraffin-embedded sections and by transmission electron microscopy. Immunostaining for alpha(1)-proteinase inhibitor, Sp1, and matrix metalloproteinases 1, 2, and 3 was performed with 2 healthy corneas and 2 corneas with keratoconus as controls.

RESULTS

Central stromal thinning was observed after hematoxylin-eosin staining in all corneas with keratectasia. No histologic features specific to keratoconus, including Bowman layer disruption, were identified in the corneas with keratectasia. By transmission electron microscopy, collagen fibril thinning and decreased interfibril distance were observed in the stromal bed. Immunostaining intensity and/or pattern for alpha(1)-proteinase inhibitor and Sp1 in the corneas with keratectasia was comparable to that of healthy corneas and differed from that in the corneas with keratoconus. No significant staining with anti-matrix metalloproteinases 1, 2, and 3 antibodies was observed in either the corneas with keratectasia or the healthy corneas.

CONCLUSIONS

Histologic findings suggest that post-LASIK keratectasia results in collagen fibril thinning and decreased interfibril distance within the residual stromal bed. Discrepant results between keratectasia and keratoconus suggest that the pathogenesis of the 2 conditions differ.

Advances in technologies for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery

Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) has become the most widely used form of refractive surgery today. The objective of this surgical technique is to modify the anterior corneal shape by ablating tissue from the stroma by means of the excimer laser after creating a hinged corneal flap. This way, we are able to change the refractive status of the patient, providing better unaided vision. Continuous improvements in the original technique have made the surgical procedure safer, more accurate and repeatable. These progressions are due to the development of novel technologies that are the responsible for new surgical instrumentation, which makes the surgical procedure easier for the surgeon, and better excimer laser ablation algorithms, which increase the optical quality of the ablation and thus the safety of the vision correction procedure. This article aims to describe the more relevant advances in LASIK that have played an important role in the spread and popularity of this technique.

Ectasia after laser in situ keratomileusis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The potential for litigation has resulted in increased interest in ectasia after laser in situ keratomileusis. This article summarizes papers written during this past year on this subject.

RECENT FINDINGS

A panel of refractive surgery experts have summarized the current state of knowledge on this subject and provided guidelines to minimize risk. Because ectasia may occur in the absence of risk factors, there may be corneas with biomechanical factors not detectable with present technology which are at risk. Several articles point out the limitations of the Orbscan (Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, New York, USA), in particular its accuracy and reproducibility with regard to data generated from the posterior surface of the cornea. A biomechanical model of the cornea is proposed which suggests that each cornea's response to laser in situ keratomileusis is unique. Several case reports are also reviewed which provide insight into pathogenesis and potential new treatment options; these include reports on histopathology, topographic pseudokeratectasia, ectasia from transient raised intraocular pressure, poor response to laser in situ keratomileusis after incisional surgery, intracorneal rings, collagen cross-linking and conductive keratoplasty to stabilize and sphericize the cornea with ectasia.

SUMMARY

Our knowledge about ectasia is still in evolution. Insights into the biomechanics and genetics of the cornea may allow us to further reduce its occurrence.