The Incidence and Natural History of Subjectively and Objectively Determined Metrics of Light Scattering in Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Keratomileusis.

PURPOSE

To assess the incidence and long-term persistence of both subjective (rainbow glare phenomenon) and objective metrics of light scattering (stray light measurement) in femtosecond laser-assisted keratomileusis (FS-LASIK).

SETTINGS

Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cole Eye Institute.

DESIGN

Prospective, contralateral eye study in which 54 myopic eyes of 27 patients underwent LASIK using the ALLEGRETTO® Eye-Q excimer laser. Flap creation was created by IntraLASE FS60 (IL) in one eye and Wave Light FS200 (FS) in the contralateral eye. Rainbow glare and stray light measurements (C-Quant, Oculus Inc, Lynnwood, WA) were obtained preoperatively, and at 1 week, 1, 3, and 9 months postoperatively. Manifest and wavefront refractions were performed at each postoperative visit.

RESULTS

Stray light measurements in both IL and FS groups peaked at 1 week postoperatively (log 1.28 ± 0.16, p = 0.02 and log 1.26 ± 0.12, p = 0.039, respectively) with statistically significant improvement at 3 months (log 1.12 ± 0.35, p = 0.007 and log 1.20 ± 0.15, p = 0.04) and 9 months (log 1.11 ± 0.17, p = 0.008 and log 1.15 ± 0.14, p = 0.011). No statistically significant differences were found between IL and FS eyes at all time points. 11 patients reported postoperative rainbow glare at 1 week (42%), which decreased to 6 patients at 9 months (33%) in the IL treated eye. 14 patients reported postoperative rainbow glare at 1 week (54%), which decreased to 7 patients at 9 months (39%) in the FS treated eye.

CONCLUSION

Both rainbow glare and objective light scatter were greatest at 1 week and were significantly reduced by 1 to 3 months postoperatively. Rainbow glare is a mild optical side effect of femtosecond laser LASIK that improves with time.