Abstract

RODRIGUEZ AGIRRETXE, I; GARCIA GOMEZ DE SEGURA, M; ETXEBARRIA ECENARRO, J  and  DIOS CASTRO, M. Influence of LASIK on retinal nerve fiber layer. Arch Soc Esp Oftalmol [online]. 2004, vol.79, n.12, pp.605-608. ISSN 0365-6691.

Purpose: Objective: To study the influence of laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) on retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness. Methods: 50 myopic eyes treated with uncomplicated LASIK. Measurement of preoperatory and postoperatory (2 weeks) peripapillary RNFL thickness by optical coherence tomography (OCT). Study variables: mean, superior, inferior, nasal and temporal thickness. Statistical comparison between preoperatory and postoperatory values. Study of the correlation between the amount of myopia and RNFL thickness. Results: There were no statistical differences between preoperatory and postoperatory RNFL thickness values in any of the studied variables: mean (77.6 SD 14 vs 81 SD 13,3), superior (103.1 SD 22,6 vs 105.4 SD 24.6), inferior (89.3 SD 28 vs 93.9 SD 23.1), nasal (53.7 SD 18.1 vs 56.1 SD 16) and temporal thickness (64.74 SD 12.29 vs 67.3 SD 13.7) (P > 0.05 for all comparisons; Student's t test). There was an inverse correlation between the amount of myopia and RNFL thickness in all of the studied variables: mean (r=-0.45), superior (r=-0.42), inferior (r=-0.39), nasal (r=-0.26) and temporal thickness (r= -0.09) (Pearson's test). Conclusions: OCT-measured RNFL thickness remains unchanged after LASIK in the follow-up period.

Keywords : Retinal nerve fiber layer; laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis; optical coherence tomography; myopia.