Fibrin adhesive in conjunction with epithelial ingrowth removal after laser in situ keratomileusis: long-term results.

PURPOSE: To describe the long-term results of fibrin adhesive use in the management of epithelial ingrowth after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). SETTING: Private practice, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and an academic medical center, Durham, North Carolina, USA. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: Patients with a history of LASIK had epithelial ingrowth removal with mechanical debridement and fibrin glue application. Visual outcomes and the presence or absence of epithelial ingrowth were evaluated again after 3 months and at the last follow-up. The main outcome measures were recurrence of epithelial ingrowth and visual acuity. RESULTS: Thirty-nine eyes of 38 patients were evaluated. After epithelial ingrowth removal and application of fibrin glue, 31 eyes (79.5%) had no recurrence of ingrowth at the final follow-up and 5 eyes (12.8%) had mild epithelial ingrowth not requiring removal. Three eyes (7.7%) had significant epithelial ingrowth at the 3-month follow-up that required subsequent removal and fibrin application. At the 3-month follow-up visit, 76.9% of eyes achieved 20/25 or better corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) and 69.2% of eyes achieved 20/40 or better uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA). At the last follow-up visit (mean 26.6 ± 17.0 months [SD]), 84.6% of eyes had 20/25 or better CDVA and 74.4% of eyes had 20/40 or better UDVA. CONCLUSIONS: Fibrin adhesive in conjunction with manual epithelial removal prevented a clinically significant recurrence of epithelial ingrowth in the majority of eyes. Larger randomized studies are needed to compare the success of this technique with that of others. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.

Duke Scholars

Author Terry Kim Ophthalmology, Corneal Diseases