Visual field changes after laser in situ keratomileusis

To determine whether laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) affects the central 30-degree visual field.

University-based ophthalmology practice.

This nonrandomized clinical trial comprised 14 normal patients (27 eyes) scheduled to have LASIK for myopia or myopic astigmatism. Automated static perimetry was performed before and 6 months after surgery using the Octopus 1-2-3 perimeter and the Dynamic-32 test strategy. Patient data included sex, age, preoperative and postoperative refractive errors, preoperative and postoperative best corrected visual acuity, preoperative corneal thickness, programmed optical zone, programmed total ablation diameter, and duration of microkeratome suction. All surgery was performed using the same Alcon LADARVision 4000 excimer laser. The main outcome measures were the mean sensitivity (MS) change in the central 15-degree visual field and the MS change in the 15- to 30-degree visual field. A multivariate analysis of the MS change as a function of preoperative clinical parameters was performed.

There was no significant change in the MS in the central 15-degree visual field; between 15 and 30 degrees, there was a statistically significant decrease of -0.82 dB +/- 1.40 (SD) (P=.01, 2-tailed t test). The decline in MS was positively correlated with refractive error and corneal thickness; it was negatively correlated with the programmed optical zone diameter.

Automatic static perimetry can detect decreased sensitivity in the midperipheral visual field after myopic LASIK. It may be a useful quantitative subjective test for measuring the effects of future improvements in surgical technique on vision quality.