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. 2020 Mar 17;20(1):107.
doi: 10.1186/s12886-020-01368-2.

Microvascular changes in macula and optic nerve head after femtosecond laser-assisted LASIK: an optical coherence tomography angiography study

Yan Zhang  1 , Jianqing Lan  1 , Dan Cao  1 , Cheng Yang  1 , Dawei Yang  1 , Wenjuan Xie  1 , Jin Zeng  2
Affiliations

Microvascular changes in macula and optic nerve head after femtosecond laser-assisted LASIK: an optical coherence tomography angiography study

Yan Zhang et al. BMC Ophthalmol. .

Abstract

Background: To measure the microcirculation change of macula and optic nerve head before and after femtosecond laser assisted laser in situ keratomileusis.

Methods: In total 45 eyes from 45 subjects, who underwent FS-LASIK during June 2017 to December 2017 in Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, were recruited in this study. Vessel density in macula and optic nerve head were measured by optical coherence tomography angiography before and after transient elevation in intraocular pressure caused by application of suction ring during surgery.

Results: Vessel density (VD) at superficial (SCP) plexus of macular region did not differ after surgery (F(3,132) = 1.41, P = 0.24), while the deep (DCP) plexus of macular region significantly decreased 1 day after surgery (P = 0.001) but returned to its baseline value 1 month postoperatively (P = 0.1). Vessel density of optic nerve head region had no significant changes after surgery (F(2.51,95.18) = 0.6, P = 0.59).

Conclusions: A short-term temporary decrease of vessel density at deep layer of macular region was observed in eyes undergoing FS-LASIK. However, the retinal capillary density went back to preoperative level 1 month after surgery. Therefore, transient IOP spike during FS-LASIK did not cause long-term decline of retinal microcirculation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any of the materials discussed in this article.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Example of vessel density image of superficial plexus (a) and deep plexus (b)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Macular vessel density was automatically labeled as the fovea, parafoveal and perifoveal region
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Example of an optic nerve head vessel density image. The software automatically fits the optic disc region and peripapillary region
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Tendency of vessel density changes at the whole images of macular superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP) and ONH (optic nerve head) before and after surgery
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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