Optical coherence tomography-guided femtosecond lasik in the setting of corneal scarring

Abstract

Purpose: To report the outcomes of femtosecond-assisted laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) in patients with previous corneal scarring using optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging to determine flap depths. Methods: The charts of 11 eyes of 9 patients with previous off-visual axis corneal scarring that underwent femtosecond LASIK using OCT guidance for flap depth determination were retrospectively reviewed at a single private practice institution. The baseline characteristics, intraoperative findings and postoperative outcomes were analyzed. Results: All 11 eyes underwent femtosecond laser flap creation and LASIK without any significant intraoperative complications. Uncorrected visual acuity improved postoperatively (p<0.0001) and remained stable at 3 months follow-up. None of the subjects lost any lines of best spectacle corrected visual acuity or developed any flap complications during the postoperative period. Conclusion: The OCT-guided femtosecond laser technique described in this report can provide a safe and effective method to deliver LASIK in the setting of previous corneal scarring. Future investigations are required to further validate the findings in this study.