Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 29, 2026
An “All-laser” Endothelial Transplant
Published on: July 6, 2015
Latrogenic keratectasia following laser in situ keratomileusis
Leopoldo Spadea1, Giampiero Palmieri, Luigi Mosca
1University of L'Aquila, Italy. lspadea@cc.univaq.it
Purpose:
To evaluate keratectasia after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for high myopia.
Methods:
A 49-year-old male patient with myopia of -23.50 D in both eyes underwent LASIK with a Summit Technology Apex Plus excimer laser. A Moria manually-guided MDSC microkeratome was used. Preoperative corneal topography in both eyes did not reveal underlying or fruste form of keratoconus. Four months after LASIK, a progressive keratectasia occurred in right eye and after 12 months, in left eye. Corneal transplantation was performed in both eyes.
Results:
Histological and ultrastructural examinations were performed on one corneal button. The analysis showed regular stromal morphology and cellularity, with no sign of inflammation. The morphometric analysis showed an overall thickness of 334 microm, with a flap of 262 microm and a stromal residual bed of 72 microm, in the center of the button.
Conclusion:
A LASIK corneal flap made with a planned 120-microm plate turned out histologically to be approximately 260 microm thick, in an eye with a refractive correction of -23.50 D. The excessive flap thickness and excessive ablation produced progressive keratectasia requiring a penetrating keratoplasty.
