PACHYMETRIC CHANGES FOLLOWING LASIK FOR MYOPIA

Abstract

The concept of lamellar refractive surgery was introduced by Jose Barraqucr almost half a century agoih. Laser in situ Kcratomileusis (LASIK) has become for many corncal surgeons the technique of choice to correct moderate and high levels of myopia. The LASIK technique combines the accuracy of the excimer laser to remove corneal tissue with the ability of the microkcratomc to access the inner stroma and preserve Bowman's membrane, reducing the effect of wound healing. It was first described in 1990 by Pallikaris and coworkers who created a corneal flap in rabbits with a microkeratome and then ablated the bed to achieve a refractive change*2'.