A groundbreaking study by Keith Walter, MD, shows that humidity in the treatment room can affect the outcome of LASIK surgery. Walter, now an associate professor of ophthalmology, showed that 50 percent of patients required an enhancement procedure when they had LASIK during the month of September, when outdoor humidity is highest.
His study became the basis for adjusting indoor humidity in the treatment room prior to LASIK surgery, something he did by developing a formula for equipment at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
“Our study doesn’t mean that consumers should avoid LASIK surgery during the summer,” Walter said. “But they should make sure that their physicians compensate for temperature and humidity.”
Walter’s research has been featured in national media and created a national standard. He has gone on to write articles related to LASIK surgery for numerous national publications.