Laser in situ keratomileusis application for myopia over minus 14 diopter with long-term follow-up.

Unlabelled: To evaluate the results of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for extremely high myopia with a minimum follow-up of 10 years. Istanbul Surgery Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. Extremely high myopic patients treated with LASIK between 1995 and 1997 with a minimum follow-up of 10 years are reviewed retrospectively. Cases over 14 diopters (D) of myopia were included in the study. From 143 eyes with high myopia greater than -14 D operated on between 1995 and 1997, 39 eyes (26 patients) were available for 10-year follow-up.

Results: The manifest average spherical equivalent refraction was -21.7 ± 5.8 D prior to surgery. This value became -6.0 ± 3.3 D after at least 10 years of follow-up. The regression was -6.1 ± 2.2 D in the period starting from the first month of the follow-up until the last control. The uncorrected visual acuity was 0.07 ± 0.1 at the last follow-up. The mean preoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.22 ± 0.12 and 0.30 ± 0.17 postoperatively (p < 0.001). Loss or gain of one line or more at the BCVA in the last control were 10.3 and 53.8 %, respectively. The safety and efficacy indexes are 1.56 ± 0.95 and 0.29 ± 0.4, respectively. No corneal ectasias were noted at follow-up. Although LASIK gives reliable results with high degrees of myopia, significant regression develops in the long term.