Risk factors for epithelial erosions in laser in situ keratomileusis.
To determine the risk factors for an epithelial defect during laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). LASIK Vision, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In this prospective cohort study, 926 patients (1852 eyes) presenting for LASIK over a 6-month period were evaluated for age, sex, Fitzpatrick Skin Type (FST), eye color, hair color at 3 years of age, facial skin wrinkling, ethnicity (Lancer Ethnicity Scale [LES]), keratometry, Schirmer I reading, corneal thickness, and preexisting signs of corneal epithelial dystrophy. In all patients, LASIK was performed using the Technolas 217 laser (Bausch & Lomb), the Hansatome(R) microkeratome (Bausch & Lomb), and the same nomogram settings. Fourteen percent of patients had significant epithelial fragility. In patients with FST I or II or LES 1 or 2, the relative risk of an epithelial defect was 10 times greater than in other patients; in those older than 40 years, it was 6 times greater than in other patients; in those with lighter hair or eye color, it was 2 to 3 times greater than in patients with darker hair or eyes. There was no significant difference in pachymetry, vertical or horizontal keratometry, or Schirmer readings between eyes with epithelial defects and eyes without. The risk of epithelial erosions during LASIK strongly correlated with patients' skin type and age.