Effect of laser in situ keratomileusis and laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy on retinal nerve fiber layer thickness

PURPOSE: To evaluate and compare the influence of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK) on the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness. SETTING: Observational case series. METHODS: Twenty nonglaucomatous patients with mild to moderate myopia were included. One eye in each patient was randomly selected to have LASIK (Group 1, n = 20), and LASEK was performed in the fellow eye (Group 2, n = 20). The RNFL thickness measurements were performed using optical coherence tomography (OCT) preoperatively and 1 day and 1 month postoperatively. The RNFL thickness parameters were compared using repeated-measures 1-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by multiple comparison tests in both groups. The main outcome parameter was RNFL thickness as determined by OCT before and after LASIK and LASEK. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 21 years +/- 3.2 (SD). The mean preoperative spherical equivalent was -4.23 +/- 1.71 diopters (D) in Group 1 and -4.16 +/- 1.68 D in Group 2. The mean ablation depth was 73.35 +/- 27.85 microm and 66.35 +/- 23.64 microm in groups 1 and 2, respectively. In Group 1, the mean average RNFL thickness, inferior average, superior average, temporal average, and nasal average were 98.2 +/- 5.6 microm, 128.6 +/- 11.9 microm, 120.38 +/- 10.2 microm, 65. 8+/- 7.1 microm, and 80.5 +/- 18.8 microm, respectively. None of the RNFL thickness parameters or RNFL ratios were found to have a significant change after surgery. In Group 2, the average RNFL thickness, inferior average, superior average, temporal average, and nasal average were 98.47 +/- 5.9 microm, 128.38 +/- 14.3 microm, 125.1 +/- 8.8 microm, 66.4 +/- 8.2 microm, 73.6 +/- 15.8 microm, respectively. No significant change was observed in any of the parameters following surgery. No significant alterations were noted in the RNFL parameters following LASIK or LASEK. CONCLUSIONS: Laser in situ keratomileusis and LASEK did not significantly affect the RNFL thickness parameters postoperatively.