Characteristics and Surgical Outcomes of Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Following Myopic LASIK

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical features and surgical outcomes of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) following myopic laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). METHODS: In a retrospective, non-comparative case series, 46 eyes that had undergone vitreoretinal surgery for management of RRD following myopic LASIK were identified. Data was reviewed with emphasis on characteristics of the RRD, employed surgical techniques, and anatomic and visual outcomes. RESULTS: Mean pre-LASIK myopia was −9.7±3.9 (range −4.00 to −18.00) diopters (D). Mean interval between LASIK and development of RRD was 11.6±11.2 months. Posterior vitreous detachment was present in 44 eyes (95.6%). The retinal breaks included flap tears in 36 (78.3%) eyes, giant tears in 8 (17.4%) eyes and atrophic holes in 2 (4.3%) eyes. In eyes with flap tears, the breaks were multiple, large or posterior to the equator in 24(66.7%) eyes. Retinal breaks were related to lattice degeneration in 20 (43.5%) eyes of which, three had history of prophylactic barrier laser photocoagulation. Scleral buckling was performed as the initial procedure in 32 (69.6%) eyes and primary vitrectomy was undertaken in 14 (30.4%) eyes. The initial surgical procedure failed in 14 (30.4%) eyes due to proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR). Retinal reattachment was finally achieved in 43 (93.4%) eyes. Postoperative visual acuity ≥20/40 and ≥20/200 was achieved in 16 (34.8%) and 25 (54.3%) eyes, respectively. CONCLUSION: Post-LASIK retinal detachment has a complex nature in eyes with moderate to high myopia. The retinal detachment is complex in terms of size, number and location of retinal breaks, is associated with a high rate of PVR and entails unfavorable visual outcomes.