J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2011 Dec;52(12):1419-1426. 10.3341/jkos.2011.52.12.1419.

The Changes in Tear Film and Corneal Sensation after Refractive LASIK Surgery for Presbyopia

• Hur MC
• Kwon YH
• Rho SH

• KMID: 2215144
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2011.52.12.1419

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the changes in break-up time (BUT) and corneal sensitivity following LASIK surgery for refractive error correction with presbyopia in patients older than 45 years.
METHODS
The authors of the present study measured the BUT and corneal sensitivity of 92 eyes that received LASIK surgery for correcting refractive error with presbyopia. The eyes were divided into groups according to gender and preoperative refractive error before surgery and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after LASIK.
RESULTS
The mean age of patients was 52.01 +/- 5.51 years, and the male to female eye distribution was 31:61. The value of BUT before surgery and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperative was 5.31 +/- 2.03 sec, 4.47 +/- 1.67 sec, 4.04 +/- 1.58 sec, 4.53 +/- 1.51 sec, and 4.87 +/- 1.46 sec, respectively; corneal sensitivity was 56.35 +/- 5.94 mm, 40.07 +/- 14.21 mm, 46.42 +/- 10.41 mm, 50.75 +/- 8.04 mm, and 52.92 +/- 7.51 mm, respectively. BUT was not significantly different relative to refractive error and was significantly shorter in the female group than the male group at 1 month postoperative. Corneal sensation of myopia at 12 months postoperative was statistically higher than at other time points; however, there was no difference between genders. BUT and corneal sensitivity at 12 months postoperative recovered to 91.6% and 93.9% of the preoperative value, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
BUT and corneal sensitivity after LASIK for presbyopia were decreased until 12 months postoperative and recovered slowly, but did not return to preoperative levels.

Keyword

Cornea sensitivity; LASIK; Middle age; Presbyopia; Tear breakup time

MeSH Terms

Eye
Female
Humans
Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ
Male
Middle Aged
Myopia
Presbyopia
Refractive Errors
Sensation
Tears

Figure

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  Figure 1. The change of tear breakup time after LASIK. ∗ Significantly different from pre-LASIK value, Wilcoxon signed ranked test.

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  Figure 2. The change of corneal sensation after LASIK. ∗ Significantly different from pre-LASIK value, Wilcoxon signed ranked test.

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  Figure 3. Time course of changes of tear breakup time after LASIK grouped with pre-LASIK spherical aberration.

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  Figure 4. Time course of changes of corneal sensation after LASIK grouped with pre-LASIK spherical aberration.

Reference

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