Traumatic corneal flap avulsion and loss 13 years after LASIK

Postoperative flap displacements after Laser In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) are uncommon complications, and flap losses are even less frequent, occurring most commonly within 24 hours after the procedure. Although cases of late subluxation have been reported up to 14 years after the surgery, the longest reported time after surgery for late flap loss is four years after LASIK. We report a case of a 54-year-old man that presented a traumatic total flap avulsion and loss 13 years after LASIK. According to our knowledge, this is the longest time reported in such a case in the literature. Medical treatment yielded an acceptable visual result. This case reinforces the concept that there could be a lifelong potential risk of traumatic corneal flap loss after LASIK.