Five-year results of laser in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK) after penetrating keratoplasty.

OBJECTIVE

To study the long-term refractive results of LASIK after penetrating keratoplasty.

PLACE: Clinica Barraquer de América.

METHODS

Retrospective review of 46 eyes of 38 patients that underwent LASIK for the correction of refractive errors after penetrating keratoplasty.

RESULTS

The mean interval between keratoplasty and LASIK was 7 years. The preoperative defocus equivalent refraction (DEQ) was 2.0 to 7.0 D in 56% (26/46) of eyes and 8.0 to 24.0 D in the remaining 20 eyes. Five years after LASIK, DEQ was 1.0 to 7.0 D in all eyes. Seventy-five percent of eyes had a refractive error within 2.00 D of emmetropia. Thirty-two percent had uncorrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better, and 59% of eyes gained more than 1 line of best spectacle-corrected visual acuity at 5 years. Vector analysis showed a success index of 60% at 5 years. The refraction in eyes with keratoconus remained stable.

CONCLUSION

LASIK is safe and effective for the correction of refractive errors in eyes that have previously undergone corneal transplantation.