EyeWorld is the official news magazine of the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.
Issue link: https://digital.eyeworld.org/i/618732
EW NEWS & OPINION 16 January 2016 surface have also greatly enhanced the safety of LASIK. Software au- tomatically identifies patients at risk, more predicable flap thickness reduces the likelihood of leaving insufficient stromal bed following the ablation, and with the advent of riboflavin UV crosslinking, we can now treat surgical and idiopathic ectasia and prevent progression of the disease. For example, dry eye has been a common concern following development of custom and opti- mized ablation profiles with larger zones and peripheral prolate blend zones have dramatically improved the quality of vision associated with LASIK. Ectasia is a rare but signifi- cant complication of LASIK. Better patient selection through the use of improved diagnostic equipment that better evaluates corneal topography and pachymetry as well as the posterior corneal LASIK. Identifying patients preoper- atively with new point-of-service ob- jective testing such as tear osmolar- ity, meibomian gland visualization, and MMP-9 testing allows preopera- tive treatment that improves surgical results as well as eliminates the patients who are not good candi- dates. There are also several new dry eye medications that are working their way through the FDA pipeline. New and exciting technologies such as topographic ablations, advanced wavefront ablations, and the SMILE technique are rapidly being intro- duced this year. The facts about LASIK are that it is the most studied and safest procedure with the greatest pa- tient satisfaction of any surgery performed in the world today. The efficacy of LASIK has improved dra- matically over the past 20 years and continues to improve as technology and surgical techniques advance and preoperative diagnostic screen- ing and patient selection become more refined. For more than 20 years, LASIK has been a tremendous asset for patients, improving the vision and quality of life of millions including our military and first responders. Ophthalmologists and industry continue to collaborate and are dedicated to improving technol- ogy, techniques, and outcomes. Our goal is continued improvement of patient satisfaction and quality of vision. However, we need to em- brace patients who are dissatisfied with their vision following LASIK and never allow them to feel aban- doned as well as provide a better informed consent to our patients, particularly those with psychiatric disease. Finally, we need to continue to invest resources into improving the safety and efficacy of laser vision correction. LASIK is worth saving for the benefit of our patients, and it is our obligation to inform other eyecare providers and patients about the true facts of LASIK. EW Contact information Donnenfeld: ericdonnenfeld@gmail.com irregular flaps, striae, and button- holes. The advent of the femtosec- ond laser as well as better micro- keratomes have largely resolved these issues with smaller, thinner LASIK flaps, with reverse side cuts dramatically reducing the incidence of striae. Glare and halo were much more common with early abla- tion profiles. Today, glare and halo are less common following LASIK than they were preoperatively. The FORWARD. Direction. Force. Momentum. 840 Walnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 www.willseye.org 1-877-AT-WILLS A world-class institution grows By doing the right things And moving all of us forward. Can LASIK continued from page 15