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Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Iris Fixation via External Pentagram Suturing
Published on: May 5, 2022
Outcomes of retreatment after laser in situ keratomileusis
D Zadok1, G Maskaleris, V Garcia
1Centro Ophtalmologico de Tijuana, BC, Mexico. dzadok@yahoo.com
Objective:
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of retreatment after myopic laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).
Design:
Retrospective, noncomparative case series.
Participants:
A total of 962 eyes of 566 patients underwent LASIK for up to -20.0 diopters (D) of myopia, of which 53 eyes (5.5%) were retreated.
Intervention:
Retreatments were performed by lifting the original flap and using the Nidek EC-5000 excimer laser (Nidek Inc., Tokyo, Japan).
Main Outcome Measures:
Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fogged manifest refraction, and complications were evaluated 6 months after retreatment.
Results:
Overall, 53 (5.5%) of 962 eyes underwent LASIK retreatment. Before retreatment, the mean spherical equivalent (MSE) was -1.7 +/- 1.1 D (range, +0.3 to -5.0 D), UCVA ranged from 20/25 to 20/400, and BCVA ranged from 20/20 to 20/50. Six months after retreatment, the MSE was -0.09 +/- 0.29 D, 48 (90.6%) eyes were within +/-0.5 D, and all eyes were within +/-1.0 D of the attempted correction. The UCVA improved to 20/20 or better in 21 (39.6%) eyes and 20/40 or better in 51 (96.2%) eyes. The BCVA was maintained in 33 eyes (62.3%), 15 eyes (28.3%) gained 1 line or more of vision, whereas 5 eyes (9.4%) lost 1 line. All eyes had a BCVA of 20/50 or better. No retreated eye lost two or more lines of BCVA. No complications were observed.
Conclusion:
Retreatment for low amounts of residual myopia performed by lifting the original flap within the first year after surgery after myopic LASIK is safe, effective, and predictable.

