Central corneal sensitivity after small incision lenticule extraction versus femtosecond laser-assisted LASIK for myopia: a meta-analysis of comparative studies

Abstract Background To compare postoperative clinical outcomes of high myopia after being treated by Small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) and femtosecond laser in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK).Methods Comprehensive studies were conducted on the PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and Chinese databases.Trials meeting the selection criteria were quality appraised, and the data were extracted by 2 independent authors, and the RevMan 5.3 version software were used in analyzing.Result Ten studies involving 637 patients (1093 eyes;575 eyes in the SMILE group and 518 eyes in the FS-LASIK group) were included in this meta-analysis. Pooled result revealed no significant differences in the following outcomes: the logMAR values of postoperative UDVA(WMD = -0.01, 95% CI: -0.02,0.00, I²=0%, P = 0.10 at postoperative 1mo; WMD =-0.01, 95% CI: -0.00 to 0.01, I²=0%,P = 0.35 at postoperative 3mo; WMD = -0.01, 95% CI:-0.02 to 0.01, I²=17%,P = 0.26 at long term), the logMAR values of postoperative CDVA(WMD = -0.02, 95% CI, -0.04 to 0.00, I²=0%, P = 0.11),and the postoperative mean refractive SE (WMD =0.02, 95% CI:0.04 to 0.08, I²=29%, P=0.60) . In the long-term observation, postoperative tHOA (WMD =-0.10, 95% CI:-0.13 to -0.07, I²=15%, P<0.00001)and postoperative spherical aberration (WMD =-0.13, 95% CI:--0.17 to -0.09, I²=38%, P<0.00001) were found to be less in the SMILE group compared with the FS-LASIK group, but no significant difference was found in postoperative coma (WMD =-0.02, 95% CI:-0.04 to 0.00, I²=98%, P=0.40).We also found greater PCE change post FS-LASIK than SMILE at long term follow-ups(WMD =-0.69, 95% CI:-1.36 to -0.01, I²=0%, P<0.05, however, there was no significant difference between the two groups at 3- or 6- months.(WMD =-0.19, 95% CI:-0.41 to 0.03, I²=31%, P=0.09;WMD =-0.20, 95% CI:-0.50 to 0.10, I²=17%, P=0.20)Conclusion For patients with high myopia, both SMILE and FS-LASIK are safe and efficacious. However, SMILE induced less tHOA and spherical aberration compared with FS-LASIK. Besides, FS-LASIK showed a greater increase in PCE than SMILE only at long term follow-ups. It remains to be seen whether the patients can get a better visual quality after SMILE and more comparative studies focused on high myopia is necessary.

Download Full-text

Clinical outcomes after small-incision lenticule extraction versus femtosecond laser-assisted LASIK for high myopia: A meta-analysis

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0242059 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. e0242059

Author(s):

Yanyan Fu ◽

Yewei Yin ◽

Xiaoying Wu ◽

Yuanjun Li ◽

Aiqun Xiang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Visual Acuity ◽

Femtosecond Laser ◽

Clinical Outcomes ◽

High Myopia ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Small Incision Lenticule Extraction ◽

Distance Visual Acuity ◽

Small Incision ◽

Lenticule Extraction

Aim To compare postoperative clinical outcomes of high myopia after small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) and femtosecond laser-assisted laser in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK). Methods From March 2018 to July 2020, PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and several Chinese databases were comprehensively searched. The studies meeting the criteria were selected and included; the data were extracted by 2 independent authors. The clinical outcome parameters were analyzed with RevMan 5.3. Results This meta-analysis included twelve studies involving 766 patients (1400 eyes: 748 receiving SMILE and 652 receiving FS-LASIK). Pooled results revealed no significant differences in the following outcomes: the logarithm of the mean angle of resolution (logMAR) of postoperative uncorrected distance visual acuity (weighted mean difference (WMD) = -0.01, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.02 to 0.00, I2 = 0%, P = 0.07 at 1 mo; WMD = -0.00, 95% CI: -0.01 to 0.01, I2 = 0%, P = 0.83 at 3 mo; WMD = -0.00, 95% CI: -0.01 to 0.00, I2 = 32%, P = 0.33 in the long term), and the postoperative mean refractive spherical equivalent (WMD = -0.03, 95% CI: -0.09 to 0.03, I2 = 13%, P = 0.30). However, the SMILE group had significantly better postoperative corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) than the FS-LASIK group (WMD = -0.04, 95% CI, -0.05 to -0.02, I2 = 0%, P<0.00001). In the long term, postoperative total higher-order aberration (WMD = -0.09, 95% CI: -0.10 to -0.07, I2 = 7%, P<0.00001) and postoperative spherical aberration (WMD = -0.15, 95% CI: -0.19 to -0.11, I2 = 29%, P<0.00001) were lower in the SMILE group than in the FS-LASIK group; a significant difference was also found in postoperative coma (WMD = -0.05, 95% CI: -0.06 to -0.03, I2 = 30%, P<0.00001). Conclusion For patients with high myopia, both SMILE and FS-LASIK are safe, efficacious and predictable. However, the SMILE group demonstrated advantages over the FS-LASIK group in terms of postoperative CDVA, while SMILE induced less aberration than FS-LASIK. It remains to be seen whether SMILE can provide better visual quality than FS-LASIK; further comparative studies focused on high myopia are necessary.

Download Full-text