To evaluate the effect of applied suction during microkeratome-assisted laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) procedure on peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness as well as macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) thickness.
89 patients (124 eyes) with established myopia range from -3.0 to -8.0 diopters and no associated ocular diseases were included in this study. RNFL and GC-IPL thickness measurements were performed by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD OCT) one day before LASIK and at 1 and 6 months postoperatively.
Mean RNFL thickness prior to LASIK was 93.86 ± 12.17 <i>μ</i> m while the first month and the sixth month postoperatively were 94.01 ± 12.04 <i>μ</i> m and 94.46 ± 12.27 <i>μ</i> m, respectively. Comparing results, there is no significant difference between baseline, one month, and six months postoperatively for mean RNFL ( <i>p</i> > 0.05). Mean GC-IPL thickness was 81.70 ± 7.47 <i>μ</i> m preoperatively with no significant difference during the follow-up period (82.03 ± 7.69 <i>μ</i> m versus 81.84 ± 7.64 <i>μ</i> m; <i>p</i> > 0.05).
RNFL and GC-IPL complex thickness remained unaffected following LASIK intervention.