Posters

The efficacy, predictability and safety of small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE)

Poster Details

First Author: H.Kim SOUTH KOREA

Co Author(s):    J. Kim              

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To report our experience with small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) for myopia treatment.

Setting:

Yeouido St. Mary's Hospital of The Catholic University of Korea and Onnuri Eye Clinic, Jeonju, Korea

Methods:

This prospective clinical study evaluated 447 eyes from 224 patients with myopia, both with and without astigmatism. We followed the patients for 6 months after SMILE.

Results:

The mean (±standard deviation, SD) spherical equivalent was -6.75±1.65 diopters (D) preoperatively and -0.21±0.37 D at 6 months postoperatively. Our data show that 97.9% were within ±1.0 D and 86.1% were within ±0.5 D of the intended correction. Furthermore, 97.6% had an uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) of 0.1 logMAR or less (20/25 or better in the Snellen equivalent) 6 months after surgery. Additionally, 48.5% remained unchanged, 41% gained one line of corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), 7.2% gained two lines of CDVA, 3.3% lost one line of CDVA, and 0.3% lost two or more lines of CDVA. Age was the only predictor for worsening UDVA at 6 months postoperatively in linear regression analyses (0.07 decrease logMar per increased 10 years of age; P<0.05). There were no predictors showing associations with error in spherical equivalent refraction 6 months postoperatively. A smaller incision resulted in a higher percentage of eyes with 20/20 or better UDVA on the first postoperative day (Pearson's chi-square test, P<0.05).

Conclusions:

SMILE is an effective and safe refractive surgery. Age is the only predictor that influenced visual outcome, but its effect was clinically nonsignificant. Faster visual recovery is also expected by improving surgical techniques, including reducing the size of the incision. FINANCIAL INTEREST: NONE