Evaluation of anterior chamber inflammation after corneal refractive surgery

Purpose, To prospectively evaluate inflammatory response by measuring aqueo us flare in the anterior chamber after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), l aser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), and intracorneal ring segments (ICRS) implantation. Methods. Aqueous flare was measured pre- and postoperatively at days 1, 7, and 21 with a laser flare meter (Kowa FM 500), Thirty-one pat ients (58 eyes) were randomized, only for low myopia, in three groups treat ed with PRK (myopia <-4.50 D), LASIK (myopia range between -4.00 and -12.00 D), and ICRS (myopia <-4.50 D). Results. Mean preoperative flare intensiti es were similar in the three groups (p less than or equal to 0.05; mean, 4. 6 photons/ms). In the PRK group, flare increased significantly (mean day 2, 9.5 photons/ms), as it did in the LASIK group (mean day 1, 23.8 photons/ms ). In the ICRS group, there was no significant difference between pre- and postoperative levels of flare at any time (mean day 1, 4.9 photons/ms). In all three groups. flare intensity returned to baseline at day 7, except in the LASIK group, which remained at a significantly higher level (mean day 7 , 7.7 photons/ms) than the preoperative one. Conclusions. According to this method, the blood-aqueous barrier seems to be altered in laser procedures, particularly in LASIK, probably in correlation with the depth of photoabla tion. ICRS implantation did not increase the postoperative flare significan tly.