Straylight levels could be linked to corneal healing

Straylight values improve over time and can be linked to the progression of corneal healing, according to a paper.

The prospective study, led by Dr Yan Wang, Tianjin Eye Hospital & Eye Institute, Ophthalmology and Visual Science Key Laboratory, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China, involved 128 consecutive eyes from 66 patients. Thin-flap LASIK with a femtosecond laser was performed in 61 eyes of 31 patients and think-flap LASIK with mechanical microkeratome was performed in 67 eyes of 35 patients.

All eyes were ablated using the VIXS S4 excimer laser system after flap creation. Straylight values were measured with the C-Quant straylight meter preoperatively, 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 6 months and 1 year postoperatively.

The mean preoperative straylight values were 0.93 ± 0.11 but the postoperative values were 1.00 ± 0.11, 0.98 ± 0.10, and 0.99 ± 0.12 at 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month, respectively in the femtosecond thin-flap LASIK group. These values decreased and returned to the preoperative levels and 6 months and 1 year postoperatively.

The postoperative-preoperative increases in straylight were more reduced in the femtosecond laser group compared to the mechanical microkeratome group at 0.05 ± 0.13 vs 0.10 ± 0.13 at 1 month postoperatively. There was a significant negative correlation between preoperative straylight values and postoperative-preoperative increases.

Straylight levels return to preoperative levels and the results indicate this could be related to the progression of corneal healing.

Please visit the Journal of Refractive Surgery to read the abstract.