Assessment of the posterior corneal surface changes after LASIK treatment of myopia using Pentacam

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Abstract
Aim of the work The aim of this work is to study the changes that occur in the posterior corneal surface after laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for correction of myopia using Pentacam. Patients and methods In a prospective interventional case-series study, 50 myopic eyes of 27 patients were subjected to the LASIK procedure. Preoperative, 1 week, and 3 months postoperatively, Pentacam examination was performed at the Elminia Roaa Refractive Center between January and October 2011. Pentacam was used for the assessment of preoperative and postoperative pachymetry, anterior and posterior corneal curvatures, anterior and posterior corneal elevations, and asphericity of the posterior corneal surface. Results This study included 50 eyes of 27 patients, 19 women (70.3%) and eight men (29.7%). Patients' age ranged from 20 to 44 years, mean 27.3 ± 7.03 years. No statistically significant changes were found in the posterior horizontal corneal curvature (Rh). A statistically significant change in the posterior vertical corneal curvature (RV) from 6.1 ± 0.3 to 6.06 ± 0.2 mm 1 week after LASIK was found, but increased after 3 months to 6.2 ± 0.3S mm. No statistically significant changes in the posterior mean corneal curvature (Rm) were observed either at 1 week or 3 months after LASIK. A significant change in the Q-value (asphericity) was found both at 1 week and 3 months postoperatively. There were significant changes in the posterior corneal elevation both at 4 and at 7 mm from the center both at 1 week and 3 months after LASIK. Conclusion Post-LASIK changes of the posterior corneal surface affect mainly the vertical curvature, asphericity, and posterior corneal elevation. Fortunately, no case of post-LASIK ectasia was observed during the follow-up period of this study. Further studies are needed to document posterior corneal surface changes in patients with suspected post-LASIK ectasia.