Five-year results of refractive lenticule extraction ReLEx SMILE compared to femto-LASIK

Session Details

Session Title: Refractive
Session Date/Time: Friday 09/02/2018 | 10:30-12:00
Paper Time: 11:39
Venue: Annex A

First Author: D.Breyer GERMANY
Co Author(s): P. Hagen  H. Kaymak  K. Klabe  T. Ax  F. Kretz  G. Auffarth  

Abstract Details

Purpose:

The aim of this retrospective quality management investigation was to answer the question whether 5 years after surgery the visual outcomes for ReLEx smile are as safe, predictable and efficient as those after Femto-LASIK.

Setting:

All ReLEx SMILE (VisuMax, CZM) and Femto-LASIK (Mel 80, CZM) surgeries were performed at the Breyer-Kaymak-Klabe Eyesurgery in Duesseldorf, Germany, which is part of the International Vision Correcton Research Center (IVCRC.net).

Methods:

So far the results of 982 eyes in the ReLEx smile group and 366 eyes operated with Femto-LASIK in the control group are evaluated. In all cases target refraction was emmetropia. Follow up was performed between 6 months and 5 years after treatment. For clinical evaluation visual acuity at far, subjective refraction and wave front analysis (KR-1W, Topcon) were compared. Additionally patient questionnaires were evaluated for dry eye symptoms, comfort and recovery time.

Results:

Concerning safety, predictability and efficiency we could not detect significant differences between both methods. 1 year after ReLEx SMILE and LASIK, the mean monocular UDVA was (-0.01+-0.11)logMAR and (0.02+-0.12)logMAR, respectively. These means remained stable within the 5 year follow up, with (0.01+-0.12)logMAR and (0.05+-0.13)logMAR being the 5-year values. With respect to aberrometry, there were significantly lower total higher order aberrations in the ReLEx SMILE group.

Conclusions:

Five years after surgery, ReLEx SMILE and Femto-LASIK show equally good results in terms of safety, predictability and efficacy. However, no dry eyes were observed in the ReLEx SMILE group compared to the Femto-LASIK group. Therefore, we clearly favor the ReLEx SMILE technique in patients who ask for painless refractive correction.

Financial Disclosure:

receives consulting fees, retainer, or contract payments from a company producing, developing or supplying the product or procedure presented, , travel has been funded, fully or partially, by a competing company, , travel has been funded, fully or partially, by a company producing, developing or supplying the product or procedure presented, , receives consulting fees, retainer, or contract payments from a competing company