ESCRS - PP22.12 - Refractive And Clinical Results Of Myopic Klex In Patients With An Inactive Atopic Dermatitis: A Cross-Sectional Study

Refractive And Clinical Results Of Myopic Klex In Patients With An Inactive Atopic Dermatitis: A Cross-Sectional Study

Published 2026 - 44th Congress of the ESCRS

Reference: PP22.12 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/nmr8-wy93

Authors: Dr Anke Messerschmidt-Roth 1 , A/Prof. Walter Sekundo* 1 , Mrs Laura Kaul 2 , Mrs Aleandra Stein 1 , Mr Karsten Pfeiffer 1

1Department of Ophthalmology,Philipps-University,Marburg,Germany, 2SLK-Kliniken,Heilbronn,Germany

Purpose

To evaluate whether a history of inactive atopic dermatitis represents a justified relative contraindication for KLEx SMILE in myopic patients over short- to mid-term follow-up.

Setting

Department of Ophthalmology, Philipps University of Marburg, Germany.

Methods

This retrospective cross-sectional study included patients with a history of inactive atopic dermatitis who underwent bilateral myopic KLEx SMILE between 2017 and 2022. Patients were invited for clinical follow-up 3 – 60 months postoperatively. Outcome measures included uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), spherical equivalent (SEQ), refractive stability and predictability, corneal tomography, corneal biomechanics, dry eye parameters, and patient-reported satisfaction.

Results

We evaluated 76 eyes of 38 patients at 3 months. 29 patients replied to the questionnaire sent by mail. Of those a subgroup of thirteen patients (26 eyes) came for a new examination at a mean follow-up of 38 ± 14 months. Mean preoperative SEQ was −4.81 ± 2.22 D. Mean SEQ at final follow-up was −0.26 ± 0.31 D. UDVA of 20/20 or better was achieved in 73.1% of eyes. Eighty-one percent of eyes were within ±0.50 D of target refraction, and 100% within ±1.00 D. No eye showed tomographic signs of corneal ectasia. Dry eye parameters remained largely within normal limits.

Conclusions

Inactive atopic dermatitis was not associated with adverse visual, refractive, or tomographic outcomes after myopic SMILE. However, the refractive outcome was slightly inferior to the reported results in patients with no comorbidity in this cohort of patients