PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) on tear secretion. METHODS: A non-consecutive series of 42 eyes of 42 patients had LASIK for the correction of myopia and myopic astigmatism. The fellow eye served as a control. The mean preoperative spherical equivalent refraction was -5.25 +/- 1.00 D (range, -1.75 to -11.00 D). Attempted correction aimed at emmetropia. Schirmer I and II, and tear break-up time (BUT) tests were performed preoperatively and at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. All tests were correlated to the amount of the attempted correction. RESULTS: Preoperatively, mean values were Schirmer I: 16.2 mm, Schirmer II: 11.6 mm, and BUT: 16.3 sec. One month after LASIK, mean values were Schirmer I: 12.8 mm, Schirmer II: 9.2 mm, and BUT: 13.3 sec. At 3 months, mean values were Schirmer I: 15.76 mm, Schirmer II: 11.3 mm, and BUT: 14.15 sec. At 6 months, mean values were Schirmer I: 15.96 mm, Schirmer II: 11.66 mm, and BUT: 16.3 sec. No correlation to the amount of attempted correction was found. Fellow eye tests were not affected at any interval. CONCLUSIONS: Tear secretion following LASIK was decreased during 3 months after surgery and was normalized by 6 months.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) on tear secretion. METHODS: A non-consecutive series of 42 eyes of 42 patients had LASIK for the correction of myopia and myopic astigmatism. The fellow eye served as a control. The mean preoperative spherical equivalent refraction was -5.25 +/- 1.00 D (range, -1.75 to -11.00 D). Attempted correction aimed at emmetropia. Schirmer I and II, and tear break-up time (BUT) tests were performed preoperatively and at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. All tests were correlated to the amount of the attempted correction. RESULTS: Preoperatively, mean values were Schirmer I: 16.2 mm, Schirmer II: 11.6 mm, and BUT: 16.3 sec. One month after LASIK, mean values were Schirmer I: 12.8 mm, Schirmer II: 9.2 mm, and BUT: 13.3 sec. At 3 months, mean values were Schirmer I: 15.76 mm, Schirmer II: 11.3 mm, and BUT: 14.15 sec. At 6 months, mean values were Schirmer I: 15.96 mm, Schirmer II: 11.66 mm, and BUT: 16.3 sec. No correlation to the amount of attempted correction was found. Fellow eye tests were not affected at any interval. CONCLUSIONS: Tear secretion following LASIK was decreased during 3 months after surgery and was normalized by 6 months.