Retinal detachment following laser in situ keratomileusis

OBJECTIVE: To report the clinical characteristics, surgical management and outcome of retinal detachment following laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK ) in myopic patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of 10 eyes-of 10 myopic patients with retinal detachment who had previously undergone LASIK surgery were an alyzed. Included in the study were 7 males and 3 females, aged 22 to 68 yea rs (35.2+/-2.8). RESULTS: Mean spherical equivalent refraction was -10.51+/-3.90 D (ranging from -6.37 D to -17.00 D) before surgery. The time interval between the LAS IK procedure and the development of retinal detachment varied from two mont hs to nine months (5.2 +/- 2.78 months). The number of retinal breaks was o ne in 7 patients, two in 2 patients and three in 1 patient. The type of ret inal breaks included 7 patients with horse shoe tears, 1 patient with a ret inal hole, 1 patient with a giant retinal tear, and 1 patient with retinal dialysis. Retinal breaks were located anterior to the equator in 3 patients and posterior to the equator in 1 patient. Retinal reattachment was achiev ed with one operation in 8 eyes (80%) and the remaining 2 eyes required a s econd surgery for the reattachment of the retina. CONCLUSION: This study suggests the possible association between retinal de tachment and LASIK procedure in patients with myopia. Clinicians should be aware of retinal pathology predisposing to retinal detachment in patients u ndergoing LASIK.