Donnenfeld Eric D, Perry Henry D, Doshi Sima J, Biser Seth A, Solomon Renée
Nassau County Medical Center, East Meadow, NY 11570, USA.
J Cataract Refract Surg. 2004 Mar;30(3):620-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jcrs.2003.08.019.
To investigate the effect of hyperthermia for the treatment of long-standing corneal flap striae after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).
TLC Laser Eye Center, Garden City, New York, USA.
Patients with visually significant flap striae at least 3 weeks post-LASIK were offered hyperthermic treatment. The central 6.0 mm of epithelium was removed from affected corneas, and the flaps were elevated. A striae removal spatula was heated to 65 degrees C in sterile water, and both sides of the flaps were mechanically massaged with the spatula for 5 to 10 minutes until the striae were visually reduced.
Thirty-six eyes of 34 patients were treated with hyperthermia to remove corneal striae. All patients had a clinical reduction in striae. The mean pretreatment best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/44, improving to 20/25 on follow-up (mean follow-up 16.4 months). Patients subjectively noted reduced haze and glare and no loss of BCVA. There were no serious flap complications.
Hyperthermic treatment is a safe, effective treatment option for corneal striae after LASIK.
