Straylight measurements before and after removal of epithelial ingrowth

In 3 eyes with epithelial ingrowth after laser in situ keratomileusis, straylight was measured before and after the ingrowth was removed. In 2 eyes of 1 patient, epithelial ingrowth reached the pupillary axis. Straylight decreased (improved) significantly after ingrowth removal: a 3.6-fold decrease in the right eye and a 10-fold decrease in the left eye. The uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) improved from 0.25 (20/80) in both eyes to 1.0 (20/20) and 0.8 (20/25), respectively. In 1 eye of another patient, from which epithelial ingrowth was removed to prevent flap melting and distortion, the pupillary opening was not obscured and no significant change in straylight was found. The UDVA improved from 0.32 (20/60) to 1.0 (20/20) after the ingrowth was removed. An increase in straylight can be a significant complication of epithelial ingrowth. After the interlamellar space is cleared, the improvement in straylight is several factors larger than the gain in UDVA.