Long-Term Visual and Refractive Stability and Ocular Biometric Changes after Laser-Assisted Subepithelial Keratomileusis for Correction of Myopia: An 8-Year Follow-Up

PURPOSE: To assess the long-term visual and refractive stability and ocular biometric changes in low to moderate myopic subjects treated by laser-assisted subepithelial keratomileusis (LASEK). METHODS: It is a prospective, interventional study. Included were 70 eyes of 35 patients who underwent LASEK for correction of ≤6 diopters (D) myopia. The uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuity (UDVA and CDVA), manifest refractions, and ocular biometric indices (by Lenstar-LS900, Haag-Streit AG, Koeniz, Switzerland) including keratometry, anterior chamber depth (ACD), aqueous depth (AD), axial length (AL), central corneal thickness (CCT), and lens thickness (LT) were assessed preoperatively and after 6 months and 8 years. RESULTS: Mean preoperative spherical equivalent was −3.99 (standard deviation [SD] =1.38) D which improved to 0.02 (SD = 0.27, P < 0.001) D and −0.10 (SD = 0.31, P < 0.001) D at 6 months and 8 years, respectively. The preoperative AL was not different from postoperative measures at 6 months (P = 0.15) and 8 years (P = 0.47). The ACD and AD decreased during 8 years, while LT increased (all P ≤ 0.001). The changes of LT inversely correlated with changes of ACD (r(s) = −0.67, P = 0.001 at 6 months and r(s) = −0.87, P < 0.001 at 8 years) and AD (r(s) = −0.76, P < 0.001 at 6 months and r(s) = −0.86, P < 0.001 at 8 years). The CCT and keratometry values reduced at 6 months postoperatively (all P < 0.001) and then did not change up to 8 years (0.21 ≤ P ≤ 0.87). CONCLUSIONS: The post-LASEK myopic regression is 0.1 D over 8 years. Ocular biometric values like keratometry, CCT, ACD, AD, and LT have been changed for a long period after LASEK in low to moderate myopia except AL.