LASIK in patients with rheumatic diseases: a pilot study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the safety of LASIK in patients with a known history of controlled rheumatic diseases. DESIGN: Retrospective consecutive observational clinical study. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-two eyes (22 patients) known to have had a history of rheumatic diseases underwent LASIK. All patients had a history of controlled rheumatic diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, scleroderma, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis, or Behçet's disease. METHODS: Assessments were made preoperatively and at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively and included visual acuity (VA), refraction, keratometric readings, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, and corneal topography. All the patients underwent LASIK. Postoperative treatment included a topical steroid-antibiotic combination. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Visual acuity, refraction, keratometric readings, and slit-lamp biomicroscopy findings at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: LASIK was performed uneventfully on all patients. The mean pre-LASIK spherical equivalent (SE) was -5.39+/-2.25, and the sixth month postoperative SE was -0.15+/-0.38 diopters (D) (P<0.001). Uncorrected VA 6 months after the LASIK procedure was 20/25. Enhancement procedures were performed in 6 of 42 eyes (14.3%) at variable times after the primary procedure. Postoperative follow-up showed development of a moderate degree of dry eye syndrome in 4 eyes (9.5%). Corneal haze, melting, flap, or interface complications were not observed in any of the study eyes. CONCLUSIONS: In this small series, we found good outcomes when correcting refractive errors using LASIK in selected patients with controlled rheumatic diseases. In this series, a favorable postoperative visual outcome was obtained with no operative or postoperative vision-threatening complications.