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

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
• postoperative complication
• diffuse lamellar keratitis
• interface fluid
• myopia

Acknowledgments

This research was presented at the 21st Winter Meeting of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ESCRS) held at Maastricht/the Netherlands; February 10–12, 2017 as a poster. The abstract was published online in the meeting program.

Disclosure

The author reports no conflicts of interest in this work.