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Decreased tear secretion after laser in situ keratomileusis for high myopia
C Aras1, A Ozdamar, H Bahcecioglu
1Istanbul University, Eye Research Center, Turkey.
Purpose:
To investigate the changes in tear secretion and tear film stability after excimer laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for high myopia.
Methods:
One eye of 28 patients underwent unilateral LASIK for the correction of myopia with spherical equivalent refractions ranging from -6.37 to -18.25 D (mean, -11.98 +/- 3.45 D). Schirmer tear test values without anesthesia at 5 minutes and tear break-up time values were measured 4 weeks after LASIK. Unoperated contralateral eyes were used as a control for each patient. The Schirmer tear test and tear break-up time values were analyzed statistically using the independent t-test.
Results:
The mean Schirmer tear test value was 16.17 +/- 2.50 mm in the operated eyes and 21.07 +/- 7.03 mm in the unoperated (control) eyes of the same patients (P = .001). The mean tear break-up time value was 21.0 +/- 3.55 seconds in the operated eyes and 21.27 +/- 6.79 seconds in the control eyes (P = .85).
Conclusion:
Tear secretion decreased following LASIK probably due to decrease in corneal sensitivity, but tear film stability appeared unaltered.