Laser Surgery Can Correct Nearsightedness

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Laser Surgery Can Correct Nearsightedness
10-year analysis found eye procedure helped for at least a decade
Posted 12/28/07
FRIDAY, Dec. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Laser surgery effectively and safely corrects severe myopia for at least a decade, new research suggests.

People with myopia, which is caused by excessive curving of the eye's lens or cornea, are commonly referred to as nearsighted. According to the American Optometric Association, almost one in three Americans suffers from some degree of nearsightedness.


Laser surgery has been used to correct myopia since the early 1990s, although the long-term effects of the surgeries have not been documented. Writing in the January issue of the American Journal of Ophthalmology, researchers from the Miguel Hernandez University in Alicante, Spain, and the Ankara University School of Medicine in Turkey described the results of a 10-year study of 196 myopic eyes that received LASIK surgery.

The researchers gathered data from 118 patients, who originally needed 10 diopter corrections to achieve 20/20 vision. A diopter is a measure of the curve of a lens, and a 10-diopter correction indicates severe nearsightedness.

The patients were evaluated 10 years after their surgeries. After treatment, most patients showed at least some vision improvement, with 40 percent avoiding the use of glasses completely. After a decade, 61 percent of eyes operated on were within two diopters. Only 1 percent of eyes developed corneal ectasia, a weakening of the cornea that is a possible side effect of LASIK surgery.

Almost one in three (27 percent) patients had to be retreated during the 10 years, the researchers said.

\"This study has allowed us to demonstrate that, in spite of the prejudices about the limits of LASIK technique, the results regarding predictability, efficacy and safety for high myopic patients are very good in the long term,\" lead investigator Jorge L. Ali said in a prepared statement.

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LASIK found to be safe and effective procedure in the long-term

Posted December 29th, 2007 by Mohit Joshi

Washington, December 29: While the efficacy of LASIK procedures in correcting vision problems has been a subject matter of controversy for quite some time, a new study has now suggested that the laser based technique is safe and effective in the long-term for patients needing at least 10 diopter (10 D) corrections to achieve 20/20 vision.

Researchers from Miguel Hernandez University in Spain and Ankara University School of Medicine in Turkey studied 118 high myopia patients 10 years after LASIK surgery.

Sixty-one per cent of the treated eyes were within ± 2.00 Diopters at 10 years, while only one per cent developed corneal ectasia. The retreatment rate was twenty seven per cent.

Lead investigator Jorge L. Alio said: “These results are extremely encouraging considering that this refractive correction implies the maximum limit of application of this technique. This study has allowed us to demonstrate that, in spite of the prejudices about the limits of LASIK technique, the results regarding predictability, efficacy and safety for high myopic patients are very good in the long term. ”

The researcher added: “The optimum limit of predictability for this technique is around 10 D of myopia. This reference study, with a long time perspective, allows us to know the safety, precision and limits of LASIK in highly myopic eyes. ”

The study has been reported in the American Journal of Ophthalmology. (ANI)