LASIK Surgery for Treatment of Residual Errors of Refraction after Phaco Surgery

Cataract is a main cause of curable blindness, and phacoemulsification is the preferred technique for its management by most of ophthalmologists. Prober IOL calculation is mandatory to decrease the incidence of residual refractive errors after phaco operation. LASIK is a main line for treatment of these errors. The aim of this research is to evaluate the the LASIK surgery for correction of residual refraction errors post phaco surgery, as regards its efficacy, safety and accuracy. An interventional, prospective, and non-randomized research included twelve eyes in 12 patients. Their mean age was 59.75 years. They were subjected to phaco surgeries, were diagnosed as post-phaco-residual errors of refraction and were referred for LASIK correction of these errors. Full medical history taking form cases, full ophthalmological assessment, and Pentacam examination. LASIK surgery was performed under topical anesthesia, at least 6 weeks after phaco surgery. Follow-up was performed at one day, one week, and one-month post-LASIK. The average age was 59.75 years. The average time elapsed between phaco and Lasik surgeries was 8.66 weeks. Eight eyes were compound myopic astigmatism, two had simple myopic astigmatism, and two eyes had mixed astigmatism. Before LASIK surgeries, mean UCVA, mean BCVA, mean K1, mean k2, mean spherical equivalent and mean thinnest corneal location were 0.46, 0.92, 41.83 D, 43.13 D, -1.21 D and 557.9 microns. One month after LASIK surgery, mean UCVA, mean BCVA and mean spherical equivalent were 0.87, 0.94 and -0.15 D. The differences between pre- and post-LASIK UCVA and mean spherical equivalent were statistically significant, while between pre- and post-LASIK BCVA was statistically non-significant. At the end of the follow up time, all cases had spherical equivalent equal or less than +0.75 D, UCVA equal to 0.8 or better, and BCVA equal to 0.9 or better. Intra-operative LASIK complications were reported in the form of few small subconjunctival hematomata in 5 cases. Symptoms of post-LASIK dry eye were reported also in all cases (100%) and were persistent in 10 cases till the follow up visit one month postoperatively. Halos and glare were reported in 8 cases and persisted in 5 cases till the follow up visit at one month after LASIK surgery. For correction of residual refractive errors after phaco surgery, LASIK surgery is harmless, effective, accurate, and predictable. Interval of 6 weeks between phaco and LASIK surgeries is safe.