Singapore- All Lasik surgery has been suspended at the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) following a spike in infections among patients who underwent the procedure to correct nearsightedness, the facility said Wednesday. Checks are being carried out on the Lasik machines. The air conditioning system and sponges and cleaning fluids used will also be inspected.
"We like to overreact a little," The Straits Times quoted Professor Donald Tan, SNEC's deputy medical director, as saying. "It may upset some patients, but we put safety first."
The number of infections rose to 17 last Monday and Tuesday.
Tan told the newspaper that the type of infection being reported is not dangerous and usually clears up on its own, but the suspension will last at least until the end of March.
The number affected is far higher than normal for the city-state's top eye facility, which usually goes for months without a single case of infection.
The patients are recovering with treatment and will be monitored. They reportedly suffered some blurring of vision, a result of white blood cells rushing to the surgical site.
There does not appear to be a pattern, Tan said. The patients were operated on by different surgeons using three different laser machines.
The problem appears to be centred at the Singapore National Eye Centre, with no reports of increases in infections at other facilities.
SNEC carries out 500 to 600 Lasik surgeries a month.
