PURPOSE: To determine whether laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for the correction of myopia induces an anterior chamber inflammatory response measurable with laser flare-cell photometry. SETTING: Instituto Oftalmológico de Alicante, University of Alicante. Alicante, Spain. METHODS: Twenty eyes in 20 patients had LASIK to correct myopia ranging from 2.50 to 15.00 diopters (D) (mean -8.94 +/- 3.25 [SD]). Anterior chamber inflammation was measured preoperatively and 1, 3, 7, and 15 days and 1 and 3 months postoperatively using the flare mode of a laser flare-cell meter. All eyes received topical fluorometholone 0.1% drops for 2 weeks postoperatively. RESULTS: Anterior chamber flare values at 1 and 3 days and 1 week postoperatively were not significantly different from those found preoperatively. However, a significant decrease was found at 2 weeks and 1 month (P < .01 and P < .05, respectively). Flare values returned to their preoperative levels at 3 months. No significant correlations between postoperative flare values and depth of ablation were found. CONCLUSION: In this study. LASIK did not induce an inflammatory response in the anterior chamber in the myopic eye.
PURPOSE: To determine whether laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for the correction of myopia induces an anterior chamber inflammatory response measurable with laser flare-cell photometry. SETTING: Instituto Oftalmológico de Alicante, University of Alicante. Alicante, Spain. METHODS: Twenty eyes in 20 patients had LASIK to correct myopia ranging from 2.50 to 15.00 diopters (D) (mean -8.94 +/- 3.25 [SD]). Anterior chamber inflammation was measured preoperatively and 1, 3, 7, and 15 days and 1 and 3 months postoperatively using the flare mode of a laser flare-cell meter. All eyes received topical fluorometholone 0.1% drops for 2 weeks postoperatively. RESULTS: Anterior chamber flare values at 1 and 3 days and 1 week postoperatively were not significantly different from those found preoperatively. However, a significant decrease was found at 2 weeks and 1 month (P < .01 and P < .05, respectively). Flare values returned to their preoperative levels at 3 months. No significant correlations between postoperative flare values and depth of ablation were found. CONCLUSION: In this study. LASIK did not induce an inflammatory response in the anterior chamber in the myopic eye.