Posters

Comparison of day one visual acuity between ReLEx SMILE and LASIK treatments

Poster Details

First Author: D. Gosling UNITED KINGDOM

Co Author(s):    J. Stokes   M. Edwards                 

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Refractive lenticule extraction (ReLEx) small incision lenticule extraction (SmILE) is a proven treatment for the correction of myopia. Results from it should be compared to the alternative, femtosecond laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis (Fs-LASIK). The latter characteristically gives excellent visual outcomes on the first postoperative day. This study compares the initial postoperative visual acuity of SmILE with Fs-LASIK for patients in whom emmetropia was the refractive target.

Setting:

Refractive surgery clinic in a UK university teaching hospital, using a Zeiss femtosecond VisuMax® laser and Zeiss Mel80 excimer laser.

Methods:

A retrospective case note review. Consecutive SmILE cases were included if they had adequate follow up data. All target refractions other than emmetropia were excluded. Fs-LASIK eyes were selected with matching for age and preoperative refraction. A Student’s independent t-test was performed to firstly compare the change in unaided visual acuity (UAVA) from day one to latest or final UAVA, and secondly to compare the change in day one UAVA to final best corrected visual acuity (BCVA).

Results:

Records for 111 eyes (53 SmILE vs 58 Fs-LASIK) from 71 patients were included. Mean follow up was 8.2 ± 6.4 months. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups for age (p=0.90), preoperative refraction (p=0.60) and preoperative BCVA (p=0.98). SmILE had a greater difference between day one UAVA and latest UAVA compared with Fs-LASIK (mean change -0.127 vs 0.037 logMAR, p<0.001), and between day one UAVA and latest BCVA (mean change -0.182 vs -0.070 logMAR, p=0.001). Final postoperative BCVA was slightly better in the SmILE group (mean -0.09 vs -0.05 logMAR, p=0.035).

Conclusions:

It is known that SmILE performs at least as well as Fs-LASIK at achieving excellent unaided visual acuity in myopic eyes. This study demonstrates that in our unit SmILE patients will experience an improvement in unaided and final best corrected VA after the first postoperative day. The average improvement is more than one Snellen line. We now routinely counsel candidates for SmILE regarding delayed visual recovery.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE