Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2017 Apr 4:11:613-618.
doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S133200. eCollection 2017.

Incidence of interface fluid syndrome after laser in situ keratomileusis in Egyptian patients

Amr A Gab-Alla  1
Affiliations

Incidence of interface fluid syndrome after laser in situ keratomileusis in Egyptian patients

Amr A Gab-Alla. Clin Ophthalmol. .

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the incidence of interface fluid syndrome (IFS) secondary to steroid-induced elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP) following laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) in myopic Egyptian patients.

Methods: This retrospective case series study was conducted at El-Gowhara Private Eye Center. The medical records of 1,807 patients (3,489 eyes), who underwent LASIK to correct myopia from April 2012 to December 2015 were included. The patients were operated on and reviewed by one surgeon (AAG) for IFS after LASIK associated with elevation of IOP (as compared to preoperative values).

Results: This paper reports the incidence of 2.9% (54 patients) (102 eyes) of IFS induced by increased IOP after LASIK in Egyptian patients. The medical records of 1,807 patients (3,489 eyes) with mean age ± standard deviation (SD) 26.4±2.7 years, who presented with mean myopia ± SD -4.50±1.3 D, mean astigmatism ± SD -1.43±0.8, mean IOP ± SD 15.2±1.2 mmHg, and mean central corneal thickness ± SD 549±25.6 μm, were included. The preoperative anterior and posterior segments, corneal topography, and Schirmer's test were unremarkable.

Conclusion: Limiting topical steroids and routinely measuring the IOP post-LASIK are necessary steps to prevent IFS, especially in case of myopia. A high index of suspicion is required to make a diagnosis. High-resolution optical coherence tomography is helpful to confirm the diagnosis.

Keywords: LASIK; diffuse lamellar keratitis; interface fluid; myopia; postoperative complication.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure The author reports no conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Anterior segment optical coherence tomography of the interface fluid as optical space between the corneal flap and the stroma.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Corneal topography shows thickening of the cornea due to flap edema and interface fluid. Abbreviations: Thk, thickness; Curv, curvature; Rbf, radial basic function; OS, occulus sinister [left eye].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Pallikaris IG, Siganos DS. Excimer laser in situ keratomileusis and photorefractive keratectomy for correction of high myopia. J Refract Corneal Surg. 1994;10(5):498–510. - PubMed
    1. Clark AF. Basic sciences in clinical glaucoma: steroids, ocular hypertension, and glaucoma. J Glaucoma. 1995;4(5):354–369. - PubMed
    1. Becker B, Mills DW. Corticosteroids and intraocular pressure. Arch Ophthalmol. 1963;70:500–507. - PubMed
    1. Armaly MF. Effect of corticosteroids on intraocular pressure and fluid dynamics, the effect of dexamethasone in the normal eye. Arch Ophthalmol. 1963;70:482–491. - PubMed
    1. Tourtas T, Kopsachilis N, Meiller R, Kruse FE, Cursiefen C. Pressure-induced interlamellar stromal keratitis after laser in situ keratomileusis. Cornea. 2011;30(8):920–923. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources