Retinal nerve fiber layer thickne remain unchanged following laer-aited in itu keratomileui

PURPOE: To evaluate the effect of laer-aited in itu keratomileui (LAIK) on retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickne meaurement obtained with canning laer polarimetry (LP), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and canning laer tomography (LT). DEIGN: Interventional cae erie. METHOD: Twenty eye (20 patient) undergoing LAIK were enrolled in thi propective tudy. LP, OCT, and LT examination were performed 1 week prior to and 1 week and 4 week after LAIK urgery. Intraocular preure wa normal at all preoperative and potoperative examination. LP, OCT, and LT mean RNFL thickne value, and LT RNFL cro ectional area, rim area, and rim volume before and after LAIK were compared by the tudent paired t tet. REULT: Mean patient age wa 39.3 ± 9.5 (D) year (range, 28 to 62 year). Mean preoperative pherical equivalent refractive error wa −3.9 ± 1.9 diopter (D) (range, −1.4 to −8.00 D) and mean pherical equivalent refractive urgical correction wa 3.6 ± 1.9 D (range, 1.00 to 8.50 D). Mean RNFL thicknee obtained by LP were thinner 1 week and 4 week after LAIK (P < 0.01, for all comparion, paired t tet), wherea mean OCT RNFL thickne and LT RNFL thickne, RNFL cro-ection area, rim area, and rim volume meaurement were unchanged 1 week and 4 week after LAIK (P ≥ 0.05, for all comparion, paired t tet). CONCLUION: LAIK doe not affect RNFL thickne. Alteration in LP RNFL thickne meaurement are due to alteration in corneal architecture rather than an actual LAIK-induced RNFL injury