1998-12-03|Case Study of Flap Complication After Laser in situ Keratomileusis
Title
Case Study of Flap Complication After Laser in situ Keratomileusis
Author
Go Simon Sunatori, P.Eng., M.Eng.
Background
A 39 year-old male patient experienced a perfect 20/20 vision in his left eye after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), but a series of flap complications clouded his vision in his right eye, which used to be dominant before LASIK. The eye experienced a loose spot filled with gel at the middle of the cornea, causing the light to diffuse. Once the gel has disappeared, V-shaped wrinkles on the flap developed, and caused the light to diffuse.
Methods
A therapeutic soft contact lens was inserted in his eye during the daytime for 15 days in order to smooth out the irregular V-shaped wrinkles on the flap.
Results
The patient experienced a crystal-clear 20/10 vision when he put on the therapeutic soft contact lens on his right eye. A few hours later, however, the vision became clouded because of the protein deposit, etc. Moreover, the vision drastically deteriorated when he forgot to remove the lens before going to bed. This temporary effect was probably caused by dehydration, so he decided to wear it only during the daytime. He stopped wearing the therapeutic soft contact lens after 2 1/2 weeks, as instructed by the doctor. The results are that the daytime vision improved, while the halo effect indoors got worse.
Conclusions
The therapeutic soft contact lens contact lens flattened out the V-shaped wrinkle on the cornea all right, but it also flattened the outer edge of the ablation zone. 2 weeks after he stopped wearing the contact lens, the very annoying halo effect disappeared, and the vision was slightly better than the state prior to wearing the contact lens, and it continued to improve gradually. Every time the vision fluctuated, he was almost feeling the displacement of wrinkles.
