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Published on: May 6, 2016
Confocal microscopic imaging of reticular folds in a laser in situ keratomileusis flap
T Kohnen1, J Bühren, M Baumeister
1Department of Ophthalmology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. kohnen@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Purpose:
To report the clinical and confocal microscopic characteristics of reticular folds (mudcracks) in a cornea after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).
Methods:
A 30-year-old male showed reticular flap folds on slit-lamp examination 1 week after LASIK. In addition to slit-lamp biomicroscopy, confocal in vivo microscopy was performed.
Results:
Examination with a confocal white-light slit-scanning microscope revealed distinct folds of Bowman's layer and underlying microfolds throughout the flap stroma. After flap re-lifting, no changes could be determined, either clinically or by confocal microscopy. At 12 months following the procedure, best spectacle-corrected visual acuity was slightly improved, but the folds, as imaged by confocal microscopy, still persisted.
Conclusions:
In the present case, reticular folds after LASIK involved the entire thickness of the flap. Simple flap lifting was not sufficient for smoothing out the folds.
