Removing Soft Contact Lenses 1 day vs. 1 month before Microkeratome Laser In Situ Keratomileusis Procedure: Functional Outcomes And Results

Abstract Purpose To compare the outcomes, safety, efficacy, and predictability of microkeratome laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) 24 hours and one month or more after removing soft contact lenses.Setting: ULTRALASIK Eye Center, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.Methods The patients were divided based on the time of discontinuation of the soft contact lenses before LASIK (Group 1 at 24 hours and Group 2 at one month or longer), and the two groups were well matched. Schirmer's testing, corrected distance visual acuity, uncorrected distance visual acuity, manifest refraction spherical equivalent, and infection rate were evaluated preoperatively and at one week, one month, and six months after treatment. Results Group 1 (G1) comprised 1025 eyes, and group 2 (G2) had 1052 eyes. The groups were comparable preoperatively. The overall-mentioned outcomes were comparable between groups with uncorrected distance visual acuity of -0.084+/-0.12 logMAR in G1 and -0.078+/-0.17 logMAR in the G2 at 6 months (P=0.322). Schirmer's testing results were also comparable with no evidence of increased risk of dry eyes or non-inflammatory complications in any of the groups on follow-up visits at 1 week (P=0.421), 1 month (P=0.101), and 6 months (P=0.399) postoperatively. Finally, no infectious complications were recorded in either of the groups.Conclusion With the absence of corneal warpage, no statistical or clinical difference in microkeratome LASIK outcomes and safety was spotted between the groups despite the difference in SCL discontinuation time before the procedure.