If the cornea is thinned too much by the procedure, iatrogenic keratectasia can occur.
Corneal mechanics vary among different individuals and different corneas.
Different residual bed thicknesses may be appropriate for different corneas. In the series, the residual bed would have been thicker than predicted from simple preoperative calculation. Although iatrogenic keratectasia might be a rare condition if the theoretical calculation as described above were accepted and followed, we must be sure that it will be avoided after all cases of refractive surgery. Routine intraoperative measurement of corneal thickness would enable us to study the etiology of iatrogenic keratectasia better and cancel the excimer ablation intraoperatively if the residual stromal bed were found to be too thin. Koch D.D. The riddle of iatrogenic keratectasia.