Title | Myopia: more than a refractive error - LASIK and retinal dystrophies |
Abstract Nr. | A1066 |
Purpose | To illustrate the need for in depth preoperative evaluation of myopic patients about to undergo Laser In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) when signs or symptoms suggesting problems of night blindness and/or photophobia are present. |
Methods | Three patients who had undergone LASIK correction for myopia were examined. Because of suboptimal visual acuity (VA) and night blindness and/or photophobia, all 3 patients underwent a comprehensive ophthalmological, psychophysical & electrophysiological examination. |
Results | Preoperative VA was said to have been 10/10 in BE of 1 of the 3 patients. VA was 7/10 to 8/10 in BE of the 2 other patients. After one or several LASIK procedures on BE, all 3 patients showed suboptimal VA and complained about night blindness and/or photophobia. Preoperative SLE and IOP were said to be unremarkable for the 3 patients. In the first and third cases fundoscopy had revealed only myopic fundus changes. The second patient had pigment alterations in both maculae. Results of all tests showed that 2 of the 3 patients suffered from a progressive cone-rod dystrophy. The third patient has retinitis pigmentosa. |
Conclusion | In the presence of either fundus abnormalities or specific complaints of night blindness and/or photophobia, a thorough examination should be performed prior to LASIK. Indeed, in such patients, the presence of a retinal dystrophy should always be suspected. Performing LASIK on such patients is acceptable, provided they are fully informed of the limitations of the potential results. |
Last name | WALRAEDT |
Initials | S |
Department | Ghent University Hospital |
City | Ghent |
Last name | LEROY |
Initials | BP |
Department | Ghent University Hospital |
City | Ghent |
Last name | KESTELYN |
Initials | P |
Department | Ghent University Hospital |
City | Ghent |
Last name | DE LAEY |
Initials | JJ |
Department | Ghent University Hospital |
City | Ghent |