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Updated: Aug 18, 2026
Multimodal Volumetric Retinal Imaging by Oblique Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy (oSLO) and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT)
Published on: August 4, 2018
[Laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and scanning laser ophthalmoscopy]
E M Hoffmann1, H B Dick, F H Grus
1Univ.-Augenklinik Mainz. ehoffman@mail.uni-mainz.de
Background:
To determine the influence of Laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) on the measurements of retinal thickness and optic nerve head topography using the Retinal Thickness Analyzer (RTA).
Methods:
RTA measurements were performed before and after LASIK. Forty-eight eyes of 25 healthy subjects were included. Mean age was 40.0+/-10.6 years. Mean preoperative refractive error (spherical equivalent) was -3.3+/-3.6 dpt, and 0.2+/-0.9dpt postoperatively. Correlation between ablation depth and duration and change of retinal thickness postoperatively was performed. All patients received a pachymetry preoperatively.
Results:
Postoperatively, mean retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (MRNFL) and cross sectional area (RNFL cross section area) significantly decreased after LASIK (MRNFL preop: 0.18 mm, postop: 0.11 mm, P =0.026, RNFL cross section preop: 1.17 mm(2), postop: 0.71 mm(2), P =0.015). Ablation depth revealed a significant correlation with changes in retinal thickness measurements postoperatively (Delta MRNFL: Ablation depth, P =0.001, r=-0.5). Duration of the ablation was not significantly correlated to the MRNFL measurements postoperatively (P =0.27, r=-0.08). No correlation was found between the central corneal thickness and the change in retinal thickness after LASIK (P =0.51).
Conclusion:
Due to changes in corneal architecture after LASIK, measurements using RTA reveal a decrease in MRNFL and RNFL cross section area. These changes are likely artifacts. Further studies with a longer follow-up are desirable.
