Evaluation of corneal changes after myopic LASIK using the Pentacam®

Abstract

Background

In this study, we used a Pentacam® device to evaluate the corneal changes that occur after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK).

Methods

Our study included 60 eyes of 32 patients. All patients were treated for myopia and myopic astigmatism using LASIK. The eyes were examined preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively using a Pentacam to assess corneal changes with regard to curvature, elevation, and asphericity of the cornea.

Results

A statistically significant decrease in mean keratometric power of the anterior corneal surface (P = 0.001) compared with its pre-LASIK value was detected after 3 months, but there was no significant change in keratometric power of the posterior surface (P = 0.836). Asphericity (Q-value) of the anterior and posterior surfaces increased significantly after LASIK (P = 0.001). A significant forward bulge of the anterior corneal surface 4 mm and 7 mm from the central zone was detected 3 months post-LASIK (P = 0.001 for both), but there was no significant increase in posterior elevation at 4 mm and 7 mm from the center (P = 0.637 and P = 0.26, respectively). No cases of post-LASIK ectasia were detected. Correlation between different parameters of the corneal surface revealed an indirect relation between changes in pachymetry and anterior corneal elevation at 4 mm and 7 mm from the central zone (r = −0.27, P = 0.13, and r = −0.37, P = 0.04, respectively), and a direct proportion between changes in pachymetry and mean keratometric power of the anterior and posterior corneal surfaces (r = 0.7, P = 0.001 and r = 0.4, P = 0.028, respectively).

Conclusion

LASIK causes significant changes at the anterior corneal surface but the effect is subtle and insignificant at the posterior surface.

Introduction

Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), commonly referred to simply as laser eye surgery, is a type of refractive surgery commonly used for correction of myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. Laser is used to reshape the cornea in order to improve visual acuity.¹ The Pentacam® (Oculus Inc, Arlington, WA, USA) is a rotating Scheimpflug camera which measures Scheimpflug images of the anterior eye segment. The Scheimpflug technique provides sharp and crisp images that include information from the anterior corneal surface to the posterior crystalline lens capsule.

With the Pentacam, topographic analysis of the front and back surfaces of the cornea is based on the true elevation measurement from one side of the cornea to the other, ie, limbus to limbus.²

One of the most important measurements taken at the cornea besides its shape is its true thickness, ie, the difference between the anterior and posterior elevations. Because the Pentacam provides highly accurate information about both the front and back surfaces of the cornea, it is possible to generate 25,000 data points that describe the true thickness of the cornea across its entire breadth and width. In this study, we used the Pentacam device to evaluate changes affecting the cornea after LASIK.

Materials and methods

This study included 60 eyes from 32 patients. Forty-two eyes were in female patients (70%), 18 eyes were in male patients (30%), and mean patient age was 27.3 ± 6.66 (19–43) years. All patients enrolled in this prospective study had myopia with or without astigmatism and a mean spherical equivalent of −5.07 ± 2.1 D. All patients had refraction stability for at least 1 year. Pentacam examinations were performed preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively between December 2011 and April 2012. In general, no LASIK procedures were performed if pachymetry was less than 500 μm or the residual stromal bed thickness was less than 300 μm.

Pentacam examination

Pentacam examination was done before and 3 months after LASIK to assess corneal thickness. Both surfaces of the cornea were examined for curvature by assessment of the radius of the horizontal (Rh) and vertical (Rv) meridians, mean keratometric power, elevations, and asphericity (Q-value).

The anterior and posterior corneal elevation and changes were obtained at the center (eight points 4 mm from the center at 0°, 45°, 90°, 135°, 180°, 225°, 270°, and 315° semi-meridians), and periphery (14 points 7 mm from the center at 15°, 45°, 60°, 90°, 120°, 135°, 165°, 195°, 225°, 245°, 270°, 295°, 315°, and 345° semi-meridians). In all mathematical analyses, we set 0° at a point on the right and moved counterclockwise in both eyes.

Surgical technique

The laser treatments were performed under topical anesthesia using a Visx™ excimer laser (Abbott Medical Optics Inc, Abbott Park, IL, USA) after creating a corneal flap with an automated M2 microkeratome (Moria Inc, Doylestown, PA, USA) loaded with a single-use 90 μm head. The optical zone used was 6.5 mm in diameter with a transition zone of 8.5 mm. The target refraction for all patients was emmetropia. The postoperative evaluation was done on the first postoperative day by slit-lamp examination. The patients were examined by slit-lamp biomicroscopy, (Nidek SL 450, Nidek Co., Ltd Aichi, Japan) manifest refraction, and uncorrected visual acuity at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months. Preoperative and postoperative parameters as well as preoperative versus postoperative changes were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software (version 17, SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA) and the paired two-sided t-test. A P-value < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.

Results

This study included 60 eyes from 32 patients, 21 eyes of female patients (70%), and nine eyes of male patients (30%), and patient age ranged from 19 to 43 years. The mean age was 27.3 ± 6.66 years. Preoperative and postoperative data are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1.

Preoperative and postoperative data

	Preoperative data		Postoperative data
	Range	Mean ± SD	Range	Mean ± SD
Refraction	−2 to −8	−5.07 ± 2.1	−0.25 to 1.00	−0.24 ± 0.62
BCVA	0.7–1.00	0.80 ± 0.20	0.7–1.00	0.83 ± 0.18
Pachymetry	500–588	540 ± 6.3	407–563	470.5 ± 8.9
Anterior Q-value	−0.02 to −0.59	−0.3 ± 0.2	0.04–1.55	0.7 ± 0.3
Posterior Q-value	−0.50 to 0.38	−0.02 ± 0.16	−0.03 to 0.65	0.2 ± 0.14
Anterior Km	42.1–46.5	43.6 ± 1.38	34.7–42.6	38.8 ± 2.1
Posterior Km	−6.1 to −7.00	−6.34 ± 0.30	−5.9 to −6.9	−6.34 ± 0.27
Rh anterior surface	7.36–8.21	7.8 ± 0.2	7.97–9.74	8.7 ± 0.4
Rv anterior surface	7.06–8.18	7.6 ± 0.3	7.87–9.48	8.6 ± 0.5
Rh posterior surface	5.92–6.95	6.5 ± 0.3	5.97–7.02	6.5 ± 0.25
Rv posterior surface	5.45–6.61	6.1 ± 0.3	5.49–6.59	6.1 ± 0.3

Abbreviations: BCVA, best corrected visual acuity; Rh, maximum radius of curvature; Rv, minimum radius of curvature; SD, standard deviation; Km, mean keratometric power.

Three months after LASIK, uncorrected visual acuity ranged from 0.7 to 1.0 with a mean of 0.83 ± 0.18, and was not significantly different from the pre-LASIK best corrected visual acuity (P = 0.254). A statistically significant decrease in mean keratometric power at the anterior corneal surface was detected after 3 months compared with the pre-LASIK value (38.8 ± 2.1, range 34.7–42.6, P = 0.001). There was no significant change in keratometric power at the posterior surface (mean −6.34 ± 0.27 D, range −5.9 to −6.8 D, P = 0.836).

The asphericity (Q-value) of the anterior and posterior surfaces increased significantly after LASIK (P = 0.001). The mean anterior Q-value was −0.3 ± 0.2 (range −0.02 to −0.59), while the posterior Q-value was −0.2 ± 0.16 (range −0.05 to 0.38). Three months post-LASIK, the asphericity of the anterior surface changed to 0.7 ± 0.3 (0.04–1.55) and the posterior surface to 0.2 ± 0.14 (−0.03 to 0.65).

Three months after LASIK, mathematical calculation of the anterior elevation at 4 mm from the center ranged from −3 to 50 μm with a mean of 25.9 ± 13.3 μm and that at 7 mm from the center ranged from 72 to 244 μm with a mean of 168.5 ± 54.3 μm, indicating a statistically significant increase in anterior corneal elevation in comparison with pre-LASIK data (P = 0.001 for both, Table 2).

Table 2.

Comparison of anterior elevation at 4 mm and 7 mm from the center before and 3 months after LASIK

Anterior elevation	Preoperative	Three months postoperative	P-value
Central 4 mm
Range	−25 to 7	−3 to 50	0.001
Mean ± SD	−4.4 ± 7.5	25.9 ± 13.3
Peripheral 7 mm
Range	−108 to 14	72–244	0.001
Mean ± SD	−59.4 ± 29.6	168.5 ± 54.3

Abbreviations: SD, standard deviation; LASIK, laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis.

Mathematical calculation of the posterior elevation post-LASIK was increased. At a 4 mm zone from the center it ranged from −24 to 32 μm with a mean of 2 ± 15.5 μm and that at 7 mm from the center ranged from −176 to 108 μm with a mean of −80.4 ± 63 μm but this change was not statistically significant (P = 0.637 and P = 0.26, respectively, Table 3).

Table 3.

Comparison of the posterior elevation at 4 mm and 7 mm from the center before and 3 months post-LASIK

Posterior elevation	Preoperative	Three months postoperative	P-value
Center 4 mm
Range	−24 to 33	−24 to 32	0.637
Mean ± SD	0.63 ± 14.3	2 ± 15.5
Peripheral 7 mm
Range	−197 to −21	−176 to 108	0.26
Mean ± SD	−102 ± 45.5	−80.4 ± 63

Abbreviations: SD, standard deviation; LASIK, laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis.

Three months after LASIK, the Rh ranged from 7.97 mm to 9.74 mm with a mean of 8.7 ± 0.4 mm, while that of Rv ranged from 7.87 mm to 9.48 mm with a mean of 8.6 ± 0.5 mm for the anterior surface, indicating a statistically significant increase in both measurements 3 months after LASIK (P = 0.001 for both).

For the posterior surface, the Rh ranged from 5.97 mm to 7.02 mm with a mean of 6.5 ± 0.25 mm, while that of the Rv ranged from 5.49 mm to 6.59 mm with a mean of 6.1 ± 0.3 mm. This change was not statistically significant (P = 0.695 and P = 0.720, respectively).

In regards to the correlation of the different corneal parameters, we found an indirect relation between changes in pachymetry and anterior corneal elevation at 4 mm and 7 mm from the central zone (r = −0.27, P = 0.13 and r = −0.37, P = 0.04, respectively, Figure 1), and a direct proportion between changes in pachymetry and mean keratometric power of the anterior and posterior corneal surfaces (r = 0.7, P = 0.001 and r = 0.4, P = 0.028, respectively). There was no correlation between posterior corneal surface elevation (both at 4 mm and 7 mm from the center after 3 months) and residual bed thickness (r = 0.005, P = 0.979 and r = 0.001, P = 0.602, respectively, Figure 2). Further, no correlation was found between anterior and posterior elevation at 4 mm and 7 mm from the center (r = 0.068, P = 0722 and r = 0.054 and P = 0.775, respectively, Figure 3).

Figure 1.

Correlation between pachymetry and anterior corneal elevation at 4 mm and 7 mm from the central corneal zone.

Figure 2.

Correlation between pachymetry and posterior corneal elevation at 4 mm and 7 mm from the central corneal zone.

Figure 3.

Correlation between anterior and posterior corneal elevation at 4 mm and 7 mm from the central corneal zone.

Discussion

LASIK is intended to change the shape of the anterior surface of the cornea, thus changing its refractive power.³ As long as surgery affects the anterior corneal surface and weakens the cornea, a modification in the posterior corneal surface may be expected.⁴ This prospective study was conducted using 60 eyes from 32 myopic patients suitable for LASIK to evaluate the effect of LASIK on the cornea. Assessment of changes at the anterior and posterior corneal surfaces before and 3 months after LASIK was done using the Pentacam. The study included patients with spherical error up to −8 D, cylinder up to −4 D, and central corneal thickness ranging from 500 μm to 627 μm with a mean of 540 ± 6.3 μm.

In 2001, Seitz et al reported an increase in posterior corneal surface elevation following LASIK,⁵ but the pathogenesis behind this observation was poorly understood and controversial.⁶ In 2002, Dimitri et al found no statistically significant change in mean keratometric power at the posterior surface 3 months after LASIK,⁷ and this is in agreement with our study. Mean post-LASIK visual acuity was 0.83 ± 0.18, with no statistically significant change between this value and preoperative best corrected visual acuity. Sectorial analysis of corneal asphericity revealed significant vertical asymmetry. Specifically, the cornea tends to become steeper in the inferior area of both corneal surfaces.⁸

A significant change in Q-value (asphericity) for the anterior and posterior corneal surfaces was found 3 months postoperatively (P = 0.001). This result is in agreement with that of a study by Bottos et al, who reported highly significant changes in the Q-value after LASIK.⁹ There was a tendency for the Q value to become more positive after myopic ablation. Also, the finding of asphericity at the posterior corneal surface is consistent with a report by Hou et al, who found that the Q-value showed a statistically significant positive shift.¹⁰

In 1999, Wang et al found that the posterior corneal bulge is correlated with residual corneal bed thickness, and the risk of ectasia may be increased if the residual corneal bed is thinner than 250 μm.¹¹ In our study, the mean postoperative corneal thickness was 470 ± 8.9 μm. We used a 90 μm blade which created a flap 110 μm in thickness, so the residual stromal bed was nearly 360 μm. There were no cases of ectasia.

Our study revealed a significant change in the radii of curvature (Rh and Rv) for the anterior corneal surface (P = 0.001 for both), but no significant change at the posterior corneal surface (P = 0.695 and P = 0.720, respectively). This is in line with a 2009 report by Pérez-Escudero et al, who demonstrated no change in the posterior radius of curvature 3 months following LASIK, but their study demonstrated that changes in the posterior radius of curvature occurred primarily in the vertical direction (ie, Rv) and increased again.¹² They suggested three possible causes for this effect. It is possible that surgery affects corneal stability more strongly in the vertical direction. This might be due to asymmetric ablation for correction of astigmatism. Even with symmetric ablation, corneal stability might be more strongly affected in the vertical direction because of the direction of the flap, which is cut in the vertical direction, leaving a superior hinge. Alternatively, meridian-independent surgery may cause a greater change in the vertical meridian if there is greater mechanical stress on the cornea in that direction. This higher mechanical stress may be caused by the eyelid, which presses on the superior part of the cornea and has been shown to modify the corneal geometry, having an impact on corneal aberrations.¹³ Interestingly, the intralamellar cohesive strength, studied in human eye bank corneas, has been shown to be lower in the vertical meridian than in the horizontal meridian, suggesting that even a symmetric force applied to the cornea may result in asymmetric corneal deformation.¹⁴ It is interesting to note that, in previous studies, the vertical posterior radius of curvature was found to be the least repeatable of the parameters measured by Pentacam in post-LASIK subjects.¹⁵

Further, mathematical calculation of the anterior corneal elevation was done preoperatively at both the paracentral rings (4 mm from the center) and peripheral rings (7 mm from the center) of the central 9 mm zone of the cornea to obtain the change in elevation. Our results show a significant increase in anterior corneal elevation at 4 mm and 7 mm from the center 3 months after LASIK (P = 0.001 and P = 0.001, respectively).

Mathematical calculation of the posterior corneal elevation was done preoperatively at both the paracentral rings (4 mm from the center) and peripheral rings (7 mm from the center) of the central 9 mm zone of the cornea to obtain the change in elevation. We found no significant change in posterior corneal elevation at 4 mm and 7 mm from the center (P = 0.637 and P = 0.26, respectively) 3 months after LASIK. In 2008, Vicente et al found a statistically significant difference in posterior corneal elevation pre and post-LASIK enhancement.¹⁶ In 2001, Oshika et al⁶ did a study in 196 eyes from 120 subjects with myopic refractive errors in order to evaluate the forward shift of the posterior cornea after LASIK, and found that LASIK induces a forward shift of the posterior corneal surface and that eyes with thinner corneas and higher myopia are more predisposed to anterior shift of the cornea.

In 2010, Zhang and Wang compared the mean changes in posterior corneal elevation after LASIK and epi-LASIK along four optical zones (center, and 2 mm, 4 mm, and 6 mm from the center) using OrbscanII, (Bausch & Lomb Incorporated, Rochester, NY, USA). They found slight forward displacement in posterior corneal elevation at 1 month after LASIK that was statistically significant.¹⁷ In 2006, Ciolino and Belin studied posterior corneal changes after LASIK and photorefractive keratectomy with a Pentacam and found no posterior corneal changes in either group, which agrees with our results.¹⁸

Correlation between elevation of the anterior surface at 4 mm and 7 mm from the central zone and residual bed thickness revealed an indirect relation between them (r = −0.27, P = 0.13 and r = −0.37, P = 0.14, respectively) 3 months after LASIK. The correlation was fair for both. This result is in line with that of Miyata et al who found in their 2004 study that even if a residual corneal bed of 300 μm or thicker is preserved after LASIK, anterior bulging of the cornea can occur.¹⁹ While elevation of the posterior corneal surface at 4 mm and 7 mm from central zone was not correlated with residual bed thickness 3 months post-LASIK (r = 0.005, P = 0.979 and r = 0.00, P = 0.602, respectively). In 2001, Hernandez et al suggested that changes in the posterior corneal surface after refractive surgery may not be related to the variability of refractive results or the depth of ablation.²⁰ Correlation between anterior and posterior corneal surface elevation 3 months post-LASIK revealed a fair, direct correlation 4 mm from the center zone and a very weak, indirect correlation at 7 mm from the center zone.