The Effect of Environmental Humidity on LASIK Results.

Choi, Byeong Gil; Cho, Beom Jin; Choi, Kee Yong

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 2000;41(9):1891-1897.
Published online September 1, 2000.

The Effect of Environmental Humidity on LASIK Results.

Byeong Gil Choi, Beom Jin Cho, Kee Yong Choi

¹Department of Ophthalmology, Gachon Medical School, Gil Medical Center, #1198 Guwol-dong, Namdong-ku, Inchon, 405-760, Korea.
²Chung's Eye Hospital Laser Center, Pupyong, Inchon, Korea.

습도가 LASIK 수술결과에 미치는 영향

조범진(Beom Jin Cho),최기용(Kee Yong Choi),최병길(Byeong Gil Choi)

Abstract

It is known that humidity in the laser room might affect the outcomes of excimer laser refractive surgery. This study evaluated the outcomes of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK)according to humidity changes in laser room. Hinged flap was made by SCMD turbokeratome and photoablation was performed by utilizing VISX 20/20 excimer laser system. The differences between targeted refraction and actual refractive error, namely, refractive correction errors (defined by authors)were calculated. We have divided LASIK patients into two groups. Group A consisting of 61 eyes of 31 patients underwent LASIK when laser room humidity was over 70% (average 73%) and Group B includes 49 eyes of 28 patients when laser room humidity was under 40% (average 35%). Each group was broken into two subgroups, that is high myopia (> or= -6 D)and mild to moderate myopia (< -6 D). The mean refractive correction errors in the high myopia (> or= -6 D)was 1.28+/-1.42 D in the group A (n=46 eyes)and 1.99 +/-1.38 D in the group B (n= 26 eyes). In both groups, the difference between two subgroups was statistically significant and high myopes group B was overcorrected compared with ones in group A (t-test, p<0.05). The mean refractive correction errors in the low to moderate myopia (< -6 D)was 0.38 +/-0.49 D in the group A (n=15 eyes)and 0.4 +/-0.38 D in the group B (n=23 eyes). In both subgroups, there was no statistically significant difference in mean refractive correction errors (t-test, p>0.05). The proper room humidity is critical for LASIK results, particularly in the high myopia (> or= -6 D)because humidity can affect outcomes of LASIK. Therefore, the humidity should be maintained properly for enhancement of surgical outcome predictability in the high myopia.

Key Words: Humidity;LASIK;Myopia