Single-step transepithelial PRK using a novel aspheric laser pulse distribution algorithm vs a conventional aspheric pulse distribution profile: a comparative analysis

Session Details

Session Title: Surface Photoablation

Session Date/Time: Sunday 06/09/2015 | 16:30-18:00

Paper Time: 16:36

Venue: Room 10

First Author: : S.Awwad LEBANON

Co Author(s): :    M. Abdul Fattah   R. Antonios   B. Abiad              

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To evaluate visual and refractive results of a novel pulse distribution aimed at attaining a smoother corneal bed, vis-à-vis a conventional algorithm.

Setting:

American University of Beirut Medical Center, Lebanon.

Methods:

A retrospective analysis of the data of 120 myopic eyes of 60 patients undergoing single-step transepithelial PRK using either a novel pulse distribution algorithm (Smartpulse ®), or a conventional aspheric profile (60 eyes in each group, age and refraction-matched). All procedures were performed on the Schwind Amaris excimer laser system, with mitomycin C application at the end of the ablation. Patients were evaluated preoperatively and at 1 day, 4 days, 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively. Main outcome measures were uncorrected and distance-corrected visual acuity (UDVA and CDVA, respectively), manifest refraction, and corneal tomography.

Results:

Comparing the Smartpulse to the conventional group, preoperative manifest spherical equivalent (MRSE) was -3.42±1.45 D versus -3.51±1.34 D, (P=0.724), LogMAR visual acuity was 0.18±0.10, versus 0.36±0.23 (P<0.001) at day-1 postoperatively, 0.21±0.47 vs 0.42±0.52, (P=0.02), at day-4, 0.06±0.06 vs 0.09±0.09 (P=0.024), at 2 weeks, 0.01±0.06 versus 0.02±0.07, (P=0.402), at 1 month, and -0.03±0.06 versus -0.03±0.05, at 3 months. At 1 month, MRSE was 0.22±0.42 D and manifest cylinder was 0.37±0.25 D, for the Smartpulse group, and 0.18±0.40 D and 0.42±0.30 D for the conventional group (P>0.05). At 3 months, MRSE was 0.10±0.32 versus 0.04±0.41 D. There was no difference in corneal haze. Corneal higher order aberrations were comparable at 1 and 3 months. No eye lost CDVA lines at 3 months.

Conclusions:

Smartpulse pulse distribution algorithm achieved faster visual recovery marked by a better UCVA in the first two weeks postoperatively in transepithelial PRK compared to conventional pulse distribution algorithm. Final visual and refractive results and safety profiles were comparable.

Financial Interest:

NONE