Results of small incision lenticule extraction: All-in-one femtosecond laser refractive surgery

Abstract

To report the clinical results of small incision lenticule extraction to correct refractive errors using a femtosecond laser to refine the femtosecond lenticule extraction technique. Private laser center, Vadodara, India. Prospective clinical study. The VisuMax femtosecond laser system was used to perform small incision lenticule extraction to treat refractive errors. The laser was used to cut a refractive lenticule intrastromally to correct myopia and myopic astigmatism. The lenticule was then extracted from the stroma through a 3.0 to 5.0 mm incision. Outcome measures were corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), and manifest refraction during 6 months of follow-up. Corneal topography and ocular wavefront aberrations were also measured. The study enrolled 51 eyes of 41 patients. The mean spherical equivalent was -4.87 diopters (D) ± 2.16 (SD) preoperatively and +0.03 ± 0.30 D 6 months postoperatively. Refractive stability was achieved within 1 month (P<.01). Six months after surgery, 79% of all full-correction cases had a UDVA of 20/25 or better. The 6-month postoperative CDVA was the same as or better than the preoperative CDVA in 95% of eyes. Two eyes lost 1 line of CDVA. All-in-one femtosecond refractive correction using a small incision technique was safe, predictable, and effective in treating myopia and myopic astigmatism. No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. Additional disclosure is found in the footnotes.