Laser of complications in in situ keratomileusis (LASIK)

Background: The incidence and course of intraoperative and postoperative co mplications of LASIK were investigated. Patients and methods: We consecutively treated 598 eyes (316 patients) usin g the Automatic Corneal Shaper and the Keracor 117 C excimer laser. One hun dred and sixty-three eyes were also available at 12 months. The preoperativ e spherical equivalent was - 5.31 +/- 5.49 D (+ 9 to - 23 D). We evaluated intra- and postoperative complications. Results: Intraoperative complications of keratotomy were observed in 1.3 % (irregular cut, n = 5; free cap, n = 2; incomplete cap, n = 1), and other i ntraoperative complications in 1.7%(epithelial defects, n = 7; flap disloca tion, n = 1; lateral kanthotomy required, n = 2). None of these complicatio ns caused any long-term effects or loss of two or more lines of visual acui ty. Postoperative complications were observed in 0.9 % (peripheral epitheli al ingrowth, n = 4; keratectasia, n = 1; subretinal neovascularisation, n = 1). Conclusions: The rate of complications in LASIK is low, and intraoperative complications did not cause any significant loss of vision. We observed ker atectasia in one eye, which suggests that deep ablations should be avoided, which limits the amount of correction possible.