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[Rational management of applanation tonometry in myopia after LASIK]
A Lleó Pérez1, L Alonso Muñoz, J Grimaldos Ruiz
1Clínica Oftalmológica Rahhal, Valencia, España.
Purpose:
To determine the accuracy and to identify pitfalls when intraocular pressure is measured in myopic patients after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).
Methods:
A retrospective study of intraocular pressure (IOP) measured with a Goldmann applanation tonometer in 103 eyes of 52 myopic patients who underwent LASIK was performed. Patients without ocular hypertension or glaucoma were selected. The same surgeon carried out a standard LASIK technique using a microkeratome Chiron Hansatome and the Technolas Chiron 217-C Lasik. IOP was measured pre-operatively, and at 1, 3 and 6 months post-operatively.
Results:
After LASIK, a significant decrease was observed in the IOP in the post-operative controls, with a mean decrease of 2.69+/-1.69 mm Hg (p<0.001). This was related with the degree of myopia (p=0.05) and the characteristics of the excimer-laser treatment parameters, such as corneal ablation (p=0.04). No correlation was observed between this decrease and age or gender.
Conclusions:
Our retrospective review showed that the post-operative intraocular pressure measured after LASIK was lower than the pre-operative ones, which changed the Goldmann tomometer accuracy, thus causing it to underestimate the IOP.