Incidence of rainbow glare after laser in situ keratomileusis flap creation with a 60 kHz femtosecond laser

Sonya Bamba, Karolinne M. Rocha, Jerome C. Ramos-Esteban, Ronald R. Krueger

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

37 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: To report the incidence of and factors associated with rainbow glare after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) flap creation with a 60 kHz femtosecond laser. Setting: Department of Refractive Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Methods: Consecutive patients having LASIK by the same surgeon were questioned during postoperative examinations or by telephone about postoperative rainbow glare (radiating colors around a white light at night). Femtosecond laser (IntraLase) settings included pulse frequency 60 kHz, flap thickness 90 to 110 μm, and spot/line separation 8 μm. Raster energy was 0.8 μJ (75% of eyes) and 1.0 to 1.1 μJ (25%). Excimer laser ablation was performed with the LADAR 4000 or 6000 platform using custom or conventional treatments. Results: Of 260 consecutive patients, 256 (98.5%) were successfully contacted. Fifteen patients (28 eyes) reported postoperative rainbow glare (5.8%), described as 4 to 12 bands of color around a white light, with 6 bands most common. The symptom did not correlate with refractive error, age, or sex but was more frequent at 1.0 μJ or 1.1 μJ raster energy (11.6%) than at 0.8 μJ (4.1%). The incidence followed a bimodal distribution, with the first grouping due to inadequate alignment and higher energy just after laser installation and the second just before a later maintenance service call. Conclusion: Rainbow glare is a mild optical side effect of femtosecond LASIK. In this study, higher raster energy levels and length of time between service calls were associated with the occurrence of rainbow glare.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1082-1086
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of cataract and refractive surgery
Volume35
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2009
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Ophthalmology
  • Sensory Systems

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