The comparison of visual outcomes, aberrations, and Bowman’s layer micro-distortions after femtosecond laser small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) for the correction of high and moderate myopia and myopic astigmatism

AimsTo compare long-term clinical outcomes following small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) and femtosecond laser-assisted laser in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK) for myopia and myopic astigmatism correction.MethodsIn this retrospective study, we enrolled a total of 101 patients (101 eyes) who underwent SMILE or FS-LASIK 3 years prior. Measured parameters included uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), manifest refraction and corneal wavefront aberrations.ResultsNo significant differences in patient characteristics were found between the two groups. At the 3-year follow-up, UDVA was better than or equal to 20/20 in 90% and 85% (p=0.540) of the eyes; the efficacy indexes were 1.05±0.19 and 1.01±0.21 in the SMILE and FS-LASIK groups, respectively (p=0.352). Safety indexes were 1.19±0.17 and 1.15±0.20 in the SMILE and FS-LASIK groups, respectively (p=0.307). Eighty per cent and 65% of eyes were within ±0.50 D of the attempted spherical equivalent correction after SMILE and FS-LASIK, respectively (p=0.164). Vector analysis revealed no significant differences in astigmatic correction between the two groups (p>0.05). Surgically induced spherical aberration was higher in the FS-LASIK group than in the SMILE group (p<0.001).ConclusionLong-term follow-up analysis suggested that both SMILE and FS-LASIK were safe and equally effective for myopic and astigmatic correction.

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Corneal Clarity and Visual Outcomes after Small-Incision Lenticule Extraction and Comparison to Femtosecond Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis

Journal of Ophthalmology ◽

10.1155/2017/5646390 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Apostolos Lazaridis ◽

Konstantinos Droutsas ◽

Walter Sekundo ◽

Michael Petrak ◽

Stephan Schulze

Keyword(s):

Femtosecond Laser ◽

Ablation Depth ◽

Negative Association ◽

Small Incision Lenticule Extraction ◽

Visual Outcomes ◽

Small Incision ◽

Corneal Densitometry ◽

Corrected Distance Visual Acuity ◽

Lenticule Extraction

Purpose. To evaluate corneal clarity and visual outcomes after small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) and compare them to femtosecond laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK).Materials and Methods. Fifty-eight myopic eyes of 33 patients who underwent SMILE were compared to 58 eyes of 33 patients treated with FS-LASIK. All procedures were performed using VisuMax® femtosecond laser and MEL 80® excimer laser (Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Germany). Pentacam™ (Oculus, Germany) was used for pre- and 3-month postoperative corneal densitometry (CD) analysis. CD was evaluated at 3 optically relevant, concentric radial zones (0–2 mm, 2–6 mm, and 0–6 mm annulus) around the corneal apex and at 3 different anatomical corneal layers (anterior, central, and posterior). Associations of postoperative CD values with the lenticule thickness and ablation depth were examined. Preoperative and postoperative corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) values were also compared.Results. After SMILE, the total CD (all corneal layers) at 0–6 mm annulus showed no significant change compared to preoperative values (P=0.259). After FS-LASIK, the total CD was significantly reduced (P=0.033). Three-month postoperative CD showed no significant differences between the 2 groups for all examined annuli (0–2 mm:P=0.569; 2–6 mm:P=0.055; and 0–6 mm:P=0.686). Total CD after SMILE at 0–6 mm annulus displayed a weak negative association with the lenticule thickness (P=0.079,R2=0.0532) and after FS-LASIK displayed a weak negative association with the ablation depth (P=0.731,R2=0.0015). Postoperative CDVA was similar for both groups (P=0.517).Conclusion. Quantification of corneal clarity using the Scheimpflug CD showed similar results before and 3 months after SMILE. Compared to FS-LASIK, no significant differences of corneal clarity and CDVA were found 3 months postoperatively.

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