Optical Coherence Tomography-Guided Femtosecond LASIK in the Setting of Corneal Scarring

Purpose To report the outcomes of femtosecond-assisted laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) in patients with previous corneal scarring using optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging to determine flap depths. Methods The charts of 11 eyes of 9 patients with previous off-visual axis corneal scarring that underwent femtosecond LASIK using OCT guidance for flap depth determination were retrospectively reviewed at a single private practice institution. The baseline characteristics, intraoperative findings and postoperative outcomes were analyzed. Results All 11 eyes underwent femtosecond laser flap creation and LASIK without any significant intraoperative complications. Uncorrected visual acuity improved postoperatively (p<0.0001) and remained stable at 3 months follow-up. None of the subjects lost any lines of best spectacle corrected visual acuity or developed any flap complications during the postoperative period. Conclusion The OCT-guided femtosecond laser technique described in this report can provide a safe and effective method to deliver LASIK in the setting of previous corneal scarring. Future investigations are required to further validate the findings in this study.