A Few Words About Post-Lasik Ectasia, also known as "Iatrogenic Keractasia"

According to the LASIK industry, post-LASIK ectasia is a very rare complication associated with a post-LASIK corneal thickness of less than 250 microns. It is caused by a decrease in the strength of the corneal wall which results in a steeping or bulging out of the anterior surface of the cornea. This event can take place days, months or years after the LASIK surgery. Post-LASIK ectasia is characterized by a rather sudden or rapid loss of vision in association with significant changes in the corneal topographies. The steepening of the cornea can take place in a very short amount of time. Many LASIK surgeons will want to perform invasive procedures such as intrastomal corneal rings (Intacs) to treat this condition.

I have examined well over a hundred post-LASIK patients suffering from this condition. Although it is not a common event, I don’t feel that it is rare. In addition, the progressive steepening of the cornea is short lived usually lasting a few weeks. In my opinion, I don’t think that any invasive procedures should be done to treat post-LASIK ectasia as additional procedures can produce unanticipated events. The best way to treat a patient with post-LASIK ectasia is to fit the involved eye(s) with a gas permeable scleral lens. It has been my experience that several weeks to a month following the onset of the LASIK induced ectasia, the great majority of eyes will become stable and remain that way for indefinitely.

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