To investigate the usefulness of ablation depth/corneal thickness (AD/CT) ratio to predict corneal haze after laser epithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) using a retrospective, comparative, interventional case series.Fifty patients (90 eyes; mean age 40.9 years) with myopia, hyperopia, and/or astigmatism underwent bilateral or unilateral LASEK for correction of refractive error. After epithelial flaps were created using an 18% alcohol solution, bilateral or unilateral LASEK was performed using the Alcon Autonomous LADARVision 4000 excimer laser. Visual acuity (best spectacle-corrected and uncorrected) and refractive error were measured before and after LASEK. Corneas were assessed by two independent evaluators under a slit-lamp biomicroscope with broad tangential illumination. The relative haze scale was quantitated: 0 (clear), 0.5+ (trace), 1+ (mild), 2+ (moderate), 3+ (marked), and 4+ (severe).Mean preoperative spherical equivalent refraction was -5.46 +/- 3.74 D (range -12.375 to +5.00 D), mean ablation depth was 93.04 +/- 45.03 microm (range 21.2 to 207.2 microm), and mean AD/CT ratio was 0.18 +/- 0.09 (range 0.04 to 0.41). Of 90 eyes, 40 eyes had a higher ablation depth (AD/CT ratio > 0.18) and 50 eyes had a lower ablation depth (AD/CT ratio < 0.18); 92.5% of eyes in the higher ratio group developed clinically significant haze (1+ or greater). In the lower ratio group, 94% of eyes developed no more than 1+ corneal haze, if any.The ablation depth/corneal thickness ratio is useful for predicting corneal haze after LASEK. An AD/CT ratio of 0.18 or more suggests that patients have a high risk of developing clinically significant haze (1+ or more) after LASEK.

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flaps tangential spherical equivalent refraction relative haze scale autonomous ladarvision 4000 depth anythe ablation depthcorneal thickness ratio refractive error laser epithelial keratomileusis lasek visual acuity best spectaclecorrected and uncorrected

Ning, Lin Steven B, Yee Shrabanee, Mitra Alice Z, Chuang Richard W, Yee,.Prediction of corneal haze using an ablation depth/corneal thickness ratio after laser epithelial keratomileusis.. 20 (6),797-802.

Ning, Lin Steven B, Yee Shrabanee, Mitra Alice Z, Chuang Richard W, Yee,"Prediction of corneal haze using an ablation depth/corneal thickness ratio after laser epithelial keratomileusis." 20

Ning, Lin Steven B, Yee Shrabanee, Mitra Alice Z, Chuang Richard W, Yee,"Prediction of corneal haze using an ablation depth/corneal thickness ratio after laser epithelial keratomileusis."